Public Accounts Committee can’t summon PM Narendra Modi to answer note ban queries

Public Accounts Committee chair K V Thomas had to backtrack on his remarks suggesting PM Narendra Modi could be summoned to answer queries on demonetisation with the panel concluding that this is against rules.

The meeting of the PAC on Friday saw BJP members vehemently object to Thomas’s comments, arguing that he had quoted precedents incorrectly and rules governing financial committee do not permit calling ministers or the PM.

They told Thomas that they will not allow the committee to function if Thomas did not correct his remarks. Though Thomas initially insisted that he would not retract or offer any clarification, he finally agreed to BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab drafting a statement that said: “Ministers shall not be called before the committee either to give evidence or consultation in connection with the examination of estimates of accounts.”