Caged CBI parrot struck government
A small storm has been brewing in the central government. The department that has been ridiculed as ‘caged parrot’ the CBI has been witnessing infighting. The government is keen on intervening in the matter. But deep down, this is not a mere fight between officers alone. This is some sort of response mechanism that has kicked in with government wanting to take control of the department. This has resulted in officers clashing with each other. The vested reason behind the government’s keenness to intervene in CBI is basically to safeguard its own interests.
CBI director Alok Verma has recommended to PM’s office the centre that Special Director Rakesh Asthana be kept under suspension till the investigation of his multi-crore bribe allegation charges is complete. Verma has said Asthana is not fit to work in the CBI and should be sent back to Gujarat cadre where he originally came from. By writing a letter to the PM, Verma has made Modi responsible for clearing the quagmire in the department. Now the PM is forced to express his opinion in the matter.
Verma had met the PM on Sunday morning and followed up his meeting with a letter by the evening. In the letter, Verma has expressed his concerns about other intelligence departments like RAW and other security agencies being affected if the investigation against Asthana is not concluded at the earliest. The Prime Minister should not ignore the concern expressed by a highly placed officer since the government is director responsible for seamless functioning of the department. Verma will retire in January and the powers that be are very keen that Asthana occupies this top intelligence post since he is the hot favourite of Modi and Shah.
Even before Verma was nominated as the director of CBI, Asthana was brought into the department as Special director of CBI a few months prior to that. Based on a complaint filed by Hyderabad based industrialist Satish Babu Sana, an FIR was being lodged against Asthana on October 15. Another accused in the case, Dubai-based investment banker Manoj Prasad has been arrested already. Sana Satish Babu had alleged that he had paid Rs 5 crore bribe to Asthana to avoid being arrested in the controversial case of meat exporter Moin Qureshi. This deal was struck with the intervention of Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad of Dubai. Another DSP Devender Kumar was arrested on charges of having accepted Rs 3 cr bribe from Sana.
After all this, the centre is hell bent upon saving Asthana. The recent developments are testimony enough to show how an independent functioning organization can be corrupted with the interference of the forces that be. CBI had not suffered a loss of face as it is doing now, ever in the past. Verma has been trying his best to put measures in place to avoid external interference into the department. There are also allegations that Asthana works to make matters conducive for the Modi’s coterie. There is widespread animosity within the CBI about constant interference by the PM office.
Verma had tried to check government’s attempts to use CBI against the opposition. Even after submitting the charge sheet in a particular incident, the central government had sought that an officer be raided. Verma had disagreed to this. His argument was since the raid was already carried out, there was no need to repeat the same act. Asthana has wanted to arrest the 70-year-old leader of opposition and her son. Since the allegation against them is of financial mismanagement, and this would have to be proved with evidences and facts. Hence Verma had argued the leader needn’t be arrested, at least now. Today, as it stands, Asthana himself stands in the position of being arrested.
Government has to investigate every officer who comes into CBI. If the government needs a corrupt officer in that position, this shows the agenda driven strategy. If this department gets polluted with corruption charges, how does it even claim to carry out investigations against others? Government has to allow the investigation against Rakesh Asthana to be done without any agenda or vested interest. This way, the government can ensure it stands for neutral and corruption free administration.
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Speaker rules out discussion on Guv''s conduct amid K''taka Assembly standoff
Bengaluru (PTI): In an effort to end the logjam over the Governor's address that has stalled proceedings for the past week, Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Wednesday ruled that legislators should not discuss Thaawarchand Gehlot or his conduct in the house, saying such debates send the wrong message to the public.
The House has witnessed repeated disruptions and adjournments since the session began on January 22 over the issue of the governor's conduct.
During his address to the joint sitting of the Karnataka legislature on January 22, Gehlot read out only three sentences from the 122-paragraph speech prepared by the state government.
The speech included criticism of the Centre for replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), portions of which the governor declined to read.
Concluding his address in about two minutes, the governor left the house, triggering a commotion as Congress legislators attempted to gherao him and raised slogans.
While the opposition BJP accused the ruling Congress and its ministers of "insulting" the governor and demanded action, the treasury benches countered by claiming the governor had "insulted the National Anthem by leaving before it was played."
The house again witnessed heated arguments on the issue earlier in the day, leading to adjournment.
During the interruption, Khader held a meeting with ministers and opposition members to resolve the impasse.
When proceedings resumed, the speaker delivered his ruling.
Referring to the events of January 22 and the subsequent debate, Khader said the conduct and discussions had conveyed the wrong message to the public.
"Our conduct as members of this House and the opinions expressed must be in good taste and in accordance with constitutional provisions. They must uphold the dignity of the House and its members. We must introspect in this direction," he said.
He stressed the need for caution to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
"Let us end this matter here, continue the discussion on the motion of thanks to the governor, and refrain from discussing the governor or his conduct in this house," the speaker said.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said the house should express regret over what he termed an "insult" to the governor.
Responding, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the situation would not have arisen had the governor read out the entire address.
"Asking the house to express regret is not appropriate. Why did the governor leave even before the National Anthem was played," Siddaramaiah asked.
BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar reminded Siddaramaiah that as Leader of the Opposition in 2011, he had asked then Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj to curtail his address.
Bhardwaj had subsequently placed the address on the table of the house, requesting members to treat it as read.
Siddaramaiah said the situation in January 2011 was different from the present one.
The debate grew intense, leading to another adjournment of the house.
