Modi acting in fear, says Rahul after CBI chief’s ouster

After CBI chief’s ouster, Congress says allegations against Verma are unsubstantiated

Hours after the high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed CBI chief Alok Verma , Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged that “fear is rampaging through the Prime Minister’s mind”.

“Fear is now rampaging through Mr. Modi’s mind. He can’t sleep. He stole 30,000Cr from the IAF and gave it to Anil Ambani. Sacking the CBI Chief #AlokVerma twice in a row, clearly shows that he is now a prisoner of his own lies. Satyamev Jayate,” tweeted Mr Gandhi.

‘Tearing hurry’

Earlier in the day, the Congress chief had tweeted that the government was in a “tearing hurry” to sack Mr. Verma because of the controversy surrounding the Rafale fighter jet deal.

Reacting to Mr. Verma’s transfer, Congress leader Anand Sharma said the high-powered committee failed to deliver justice and accused the Central Vigilance Commission of acting at the behest of the government.

“Of the 10 allegations, six of them are unsubstantiated or false. And the other four are only circumstantial...If there was anything serious in the CVC report, the Supreme Court would have acted on it,” Mr Sharma said at a press conference.

The former Union Minister also said principles of natural justice requires that “77 days [tenure]” that Mr. Verma lost should be given back to him.

“Despite the Supreme Court categorically stating that Mr. Verma’s removal was illegal, the Modi government is trying to brazen it out. An arrogant Prime Minister thinks he is neither accountable to Parliament nor to the law of the land. Why is there a panic in the government, what is the Prime Minister worried about, what is it he doesn’t want the CBI to look into?”asked Mr. Sharma

“Removal of Verma, raiding of CBI offices, removal of files, all that needs to be investigated,” he added and asked for an independent committee be constituted.

Sore loser, says BJP

Hitting out at the Congress, the BJP called it a “sore loser”, saying the party has been left to lick its wounds “after failing to subvert the central probe agency by joining personal battles”.

In a tweet, BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said: “Shameless Congress lies again. Here are facts: 1) Shri Verma was given an opportunity to present his case before the CVC in presence of Justice Patnaik (retd), appointed by the Supreme Court. 2) SC also provided a copy of the CVC report to Verma’s advocate.”

(With inputs from PTI)