New Delhi: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), on Friday, failed to reach a consensus on examining the PM CARES Fund set up as a response to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The chairman of the committee, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is also the leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha, appealed to the members to think of the nation and act with their conscience and find a consensus on the important subject, according to an NDTV report.
However the members of the ruling party with the support of BJD leader Bharturi Mahatab, spared no efforts to stall the proposal of examining PM Cares Fund.
Senior leader Bhupinder Yadav, leading the panel, blocked Chowdhury’s attempt to select the PM CARES Fund for examination reportedly saying its funding was not sanctioned by parliament and therefore it cannot be taken up by the committee.
Opposition though outnumbered, claimed that BJP’s fear of comeuppance and PM CARES Fund not being audited by Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) are the reasons for denial of scrutinising government’s response to the pandemic.
Consequently, the key parliamentary committee will be unable to scrutinise and analyse one of the world’s biggest lockdowns, the government’s topical response to the crisis. 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, reportedly.
The PAC is one of the most important parliamentary panels which scrutinises key reports by the auditor general and has taken up issues like the 2G spectrum scandal in the past.
