The Public Accounts Committee said on Friday that PM Narendra Modi will not be called to explain his decision on demonetisation policy. PAC statement said that the Prime Minister cannot be summoned to explain why it undertook a step, overruling the comments of the committee chief that came a few days ago.
PAC statement clarifies that PM Modi will not be summoned as committee rules do not allow it
PAC Chief K V Thomas had said on Monday that the panel even has the powers to summon the Prime Minister for its probe into the demonetisation policy and the steps taken to implement it. He had said that the decision on whether he is to be summoned or not will be based on the details refurbished by the RBI Governor Urjit Patel who has been called by PAC on Jan 20.
“Ministers shall not be called before the Committee either to give evidence or consultation in connection with the examination of estimates of accounts…however, Chairperson, when considered necessary but after its deliberations are concluded, may have an informal interaction with the minister”, parliament’s PAC said in a statement.
As per the rule 99 of the committee, the Prime Minister cannot be summoned before it unless there is any evidence against him. The BJP members of the committee had objected when the committee Chief K V Thomas (Congress) had said that PAC is capable of calling upon the PM to answer its queries.