Taking serious exception to the UPA government rejecting in the Supreme Court the demand for granting complete autonomy to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said this was a clear indication that the Congress wanted to keep the premier investigative agency under its control and use it for political purposes.
At a press conference here, BJP former national president M. Venkaiah Naidu said the party would make it an issue in the monsoon session of Parliament scheduled to commence on Monday.
Accepted
Pointing out that the Union Cabinet had already accepted the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha select committee on giving complete autonomy to the CBI, Mr. Naidu alleged that instead of submitting the select committee’s recommendations, the UPA government had filed a different affidavit before the apex court.
The Centre had also turned down suggestions made by the CBI itself with respect to its autonomy, he said, and maintained that “the present stand of ignoring the select committee’s recommendations and the CBI’s suggestions will no way help immunise the investigative agency from political interference”.
Accusing the Congress of misusing the CBI to harass its political opponents, keep its allies under control and win over neutral political forces as and when necessary, he said, “The UPA has ensured its longevity in office by misusing the CBI and the government is still continuing in office – courtesy, the CBI.”
The Centre had declined to grant a fixed term of three years for the CBI director, he said. Accusing the UPA of being responsible for the conflict between the CBI and the Intelligence Bureau, he said the BJP would raise this issue also in the ensuing Parliament session.
