The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned today as the Opposition chanted a campaign for Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the alleged 2G spectrum scam.

The Opposition chanted,” We want JPC in Lok Sabha as the speaker adjourned the House in the morning. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the Lok Sabha over the 2G spectrum scam today.

Telecom Minister A Raja resigned last night after a week of considerable embarrassment for the government over the 2G scam. Both he and his party - the DMK - stressed that the resignation was not an admission of guilt, and that Raja wanted to pave the way for Parliament to start functioning (it has been stalled by the Opposition over the 2G scam).

Raja's resignation came after a report by the government's auditor on the 2G scam was leaked to the media. The report blames Raja for costing the government close to Rs. 1.76 lakh crore by failing to auction 2G spectrum in 2008. He chose, instead, to award licenses based on prices negotiated in 2001.

The government has so far refused to a JPC on the 2G scam. The Opposition argues that a JPC is critical because while the CBI is investigating the case, it functions, according to the Opposition, as an extension of the government and will therefore not conduct an impartial inquiry.