BJP wants PAC discussion on note-ban deferred

The Public Accounts Committee’s review of the monetary policy, called in the backdrop of demonetisation, is facing fresh challenges with BJP MPs on the panel demanding its deferment, citing budgetary preparations.

A meeting of the panel witnessed dramatic scenes here on Friday as the BJP members also demanded an apology from Chairman KV Thomas for stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also be called before the Committee.

Non-Congress, non-BJP members, however, alleged that there was a tacit understanding between the two key parties to scuttle discussion on the matter. They sought a probe on the alleged media leak of questions sent by the PAC to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They also alleged that these questions were sent without even preparing a background note by the PAC Secretariat.

“The RBI and the Finance Ministry are yet to table a background note on the issue. Can questions be framed from vacuum?” asked a member.

The BJP members in the panel argued that RBI Governor Urjit Patel and the Finance Ministry officials are busy with the Budget preparations and they should not be summoned to the PAC until the Budget is presented, as scheduled on February 1. In the Finance Standing Committee, too, the BJP has made a similar plea.

The Opposition members, however, say that BJP’s motive is political. “The RBI Governor has nothing to do with the Budget. They just want to scuttle the discussion on demonetisation. This is to avoid the bitter truth coming out during the Uttar Pradesh election campaign,” a Congress MP in the panel said.

The BJP members also argued that Thomas’ statement that Modi could be called if the RBI and the Finance Ministry put the onus of making the decision on the Prime Minister, was against rules. Seeking an apology from the Chairman, they said the PAC does not have the powers to call the Prime Minister or any Minister.

They demanded that the PAC issue a clarification.

Later, the PAC said in a statement that as per rules relating to issue of calling Ministers/Prime Minister to the Financial Committees, Direction 99 of Directions by the Speaker state that though officials may be called to give evidence in connection with the examination of the estimates and accounts relating to a particular Ministry, Ministers shall not be called before the Committee either to give evidence or consultation in connection with the examination of estimates or accounts.

“However, Chairperson, when considered necessary ‘but after its deliberations are concluded may have an informal interaction with the Minister’,” the statement added.

Both the BJP and the Congress interpreted the statement as a victory of their positions. A BJP member said Thomas’ argument had been rejected, while the Congress side said the PAC had now given the powers to the Chairman to informally meet the Minister to take his views on a matter.

The Congress members alleged in the meeting that the BJP was trying to kill institutions, such as the PAC. “What the Chairman had stated was that the PAC can collectively take a decision to summon a member. Now the PAC has vested all the powers to the Chairman,” the Congress member added.

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