PM Manmohan Singh says to set up special telecoms probe

India will set up a cross-party parliamentary probe into the multi-billion dollar telecoms corruption scandal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday, caving into an opposition demand.

The probe was a condition imposed by the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP )) for the smooth running of the session where the budget will be presented and a landmark tax reform will be debated.

"Our country can ill afford a situation when parliament is paralysed," Singh told parliament.