Nothing like victory or defeat in a democracy: Cong

"We are sticking to our old stand. First come to Parliament and discuss. A way will automatically emerge ..The solution of any problem never comes out by being adamant.

Nobody should be adamant but find a solution forward through talks....there should not be anything like a defeat and victory in a parliamentary democracy," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

He was responding to queries on the issue of JPC including whether agreeing to JPC after vehemently opposing it for months will not be considered a defeat for Congress-led UPA.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, another senior party leader said that with the Opposition rigid on its demand for a JPC and threatening to paralayse Parliament even in the Budget session, the only two options available before the ruling alliance were either to go to snap polls or accept the demand.

He said the party has no problem with JPC and will fight back the opposition charges. He said this will also help focus on organizational matters in the party, which was getting delayed due to occupation with the JPC versus no JPC issue.

Speaking separately, Ahmed said,"We dont want Parliament should be disrupted in the budget session. Every responsbile person wants that Parliament should run....the Opposition should come to Parliament, discuss and debate and then Parliament will decide a way forward."

To a question whether the party wanted a disussion on 2G spectrum issue in the House, Ahmed said these matters are to be decided by Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

Party sources said the government is of the firm view that it will not announce anything "outside Parliament" and it has no problem with anything so far as Parliament functions properly.

A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said there is no question of conceding to the demand for a JPC before a discussion on the matter.

Asked what the party would do if the Oppostion upped the ante further on the issue seeking resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the leader said there was no question of conceding to any such demand and facing fresh elections would be a better option in such an eventuality.

However, at the same time, he said the Opposition was unlikely to pitch for such a demand as the "Prime Minister has a clean image" and "people will not believe any such smear campaign."

The party`s reaction has come after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee chaired an all-party meeting to break the logjam between the government and the opposition over the issue. Coming out of the hour-long meeting, opposition leaders claimed there was "consensus" on the JPC issue and both the sides were keen that Parliament should function.