NEW DELHI: A political war of words broke out on Sunday between the ruling BJP and the Congress after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decided to summon SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and TRAI officials on October 24.Responding to PAC member and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s allegations that the panel’s chairman and Congress MP KC Venugopal is trying to destabilise the country’s financial structure and economy, Congress said it indicates the government’s complicity in the contentious issue.Hinderburg Research, a US-based short-shelling firm, had first levelled the allegation of conflict of interest against Buch. Congress has launched a scathing attack on the regulatory body, citing the payments made to Buch by her former employer ICICI Bank, after she became a whole-time member of SEBI, and sought an independent probe into the matter.Attacking the government, Congress leader Pawan Khera asked who it is saving by trying to protect Buch. “It is now a clear indication that the government is complicit. Who are they saving by trying to protect Madhabi Buch?” Khera posted on X.It is now a clear indication that the government is complicit. Who are they saving by trying to protect #MadhabiBuch? #SEBI pic.twitter.com/wJtBrrXuNW— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) October 6, 2024 Echoing the view, Praveen Chakravarty, chairman of Professionals’ Congress and Data Analytics, sought to know why a BJP MP objected to her appearance before a Parliament committee. “Every time there is something about Madhabi Buch or her family, intriguingly, BJP MPs and ministers come to her defence. If Buch is innocent as she claims, why can’t she defend herself with the PAC?” he wrote on X.The PAC, which met on October 4, has finalised its agenda for October 24 as: Briefing by Audit followed by Oral evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) and Securities and SEBI on the subject ‘Performance Review of Regulatory Bodies established by Act of Parliament’.
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