Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury conflicts with NDA MPs at PAC meeting over alleged mishandling of pandemic

On Wednesday, BJP and JDU members fiercely rejected committee chairman Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary's attempt to take up the subject of vaccine manufacturing, purchasing, and distribution during a meeting of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The meeting was scheduled to narrow down the topics on which the committee will focus in 2021-2022.

Mr. Chowdhury read out a statement, a political comment, attacking the government's current vaccination programme and overall alleged mishandling during the pandemic as he rose to deliver the closing remarks.

Members of the BJP and JDU objected, claiming that it was not on the agenda and that it could not be imposed on the panel.

According to a source, BJP member Jagdambika Pal led the protest, while JDU member Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh took significant offence, stating the chairman should notify the media if he wants to politicise the subject.

This is the first time the PAC meeting has convened since the second wave of Covid-19 broke out.

The leaders were also against bringing up the Covid-19 vaccine for debate. Following the debate, Chowdhury stated that if the panel believes these problems are unsuitable for discussion, he is willing to quit.

The NDA MPs then indicated that the PAC's larger function is to audit the Union government's revenue and spending, as well as to evaluate the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) audit report once it is brought before Parliament.

The political brawl at the PAC meeting on Wednesday took place in plain view of the officials present, including the AG and Deputy AGs. Political affinities have frequently been used by parliamentary panels, which are intended to operate in a nonpartisan way.