New Delhi: Recent reports claim that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Friday failed to arrive at a consensus on examining the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the new PM CARES fund set up to tackle the crisis. According to sources, several members of ruling BJP opposed chairman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's proposal to examine the government's handling of the COVID crisis as well as discussions on PM CARES fund.

Several other allies of the BJP such as Biju Janata Dal also supported the ruling party due to which the opposition was outnumbered in the discussion.

Following this, the opposition came down heavily on the ruling party by saying that the reason for denying the scrutiny of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government's response is because the BJP is afraid of a closer look into the PM CARES fund which is not under the audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or CAG.

The ruling party, which enjoys a majority in the panel and is led by senior leader Bhupender Yadav, blocked Mr Chowdhury's attempt to select the PM CARES Fund for examination saying its funding was not sanctioned by parliament and therefore it cannot be taken up by the committee.

The government has said the PM CARES Fund, set up as a war chest for national emergencies to draw individual and private sector donations, will not be looked into by the government's auditor but by "independent" auditors.

This was the first time that the PAC met after the nationwide lockdown was lifted and unlike other committees where the presence of members were minimal, the BJP ensured there was nearly full attendance.