BJP Checkmates PAC Proposal Of Discussion On PM Cares Fund

Amid coronavirus lockdown, the meeting of the Parliamentary Committees was not being called but soon after unlock the meetings got started with social distancing. In this sequence, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting took place to review the central government’s steps taken to deal with the Corona crisis and the PM Cares Fund but failed to arrive at the consensus on taking up and scrutinising government’s response over COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a powerful committee of Parliament which reviews the report given by the CAG. Previously, PAC has taken up points like 2G spectrum scandal.

The chairman of the committee AdhirChowdhury, who is also the leader of the congress party in the LokSabha appealed to members to think of the nation and act with their conscience on this. Sources told that Chowdhury tried to discuss the problems faced by the people due to lockdown in the country, but members of the ruling BJP in the committee did not cooperate. BJP MPs questioned the issue, citing PAC rules. Sources said that the government managed to hide its flaws as the ruling party MPs in the PAC did not allow the Corona crisis and PM Cares Fund to be discussed.

Members of the PAC, in which BJP enjoys majority and is led by senior party leader BhupenderYadav, said that PM Cares Fund amount was not sanctioned by the parliament and therefore it cannot be taken up by the committee.
In fact, PAC President Chowdhury proposed a discussion on the subject, citing the unprecedented corona crisis globally. He appealed the members to discuss the corona epidemic and its impact on agriculture, small industries and health sector. He asked the members to allow the discussion to go on through consensus. But this proposal was opposed by BijuJanata Dal (BJD) MP BhartruhariMahtab citing PAC rules. Since the BJP has a majority, the President of the PAC deferred the proposal.

As per the sources, the BJP opposed the proposal because it is afraid of a closer look into the PM CARES fund which is not under the audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or CAG. The PAC, however, agreed to review the construction of border roads at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and procurement of high-altitude clothing for the armed forces.