Corruption Scandal Halts Progress in India Parliament- Nicolas Duncan

Monday marked the end of a paralyzed India Parliament winter session. The session lasted four weeks and was largely devoid of work but filled with harsh opposition demands for an investigation into a telecom scandal that cost the country billions.

The accusations arose from a scandal centered on the 2008 sale of second-generation, or 2G, cellular licenses. The licenses were sold on a "first-come, first-served" process to ineligible participants who in turn sold their stakes at a high premium.  It was reported last month that the government lost as much as $36 billion in potential revenue by not auctioning the licenses. India only netted $2.7 billion.

Each sitting was accompanied by noisy opposition lawmakers spilling onto the floor of parliament. There were chants of anti-government slogans and also demands for a parliamentary committee to be formed to investigate. The speaker would adjourn proceedings until the next day, hoping for a resolution.

The opposition party wants a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate because this would have the power to call Cabinet members to testify. Opposition lawmakers say they don't trust the government to conduct a proper investigation of its own scandal licensing process.

However, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, refused, saying such a committee can do nothing more than the existing mechanisms.

The Supreme Court has been holding hearings on what went wrong and is expected to rule within weeks.