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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Ready to face no-confidence motion, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Congress government led by him was ready to face the no-confidence motion if moved by the opposition during the legislature session from December 8.
With Deputy CM D K Shivakumar by his side, he reiterated that they would both abide by the high command's decision on the leadership issue.
"Let them (opposition) bring in a no-confidence motion or adjournment motion or any other motion. We are ready to face it. Ours is an open book, transparent government. We are ready to face anything," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
However, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, clarified that the party, along with the JD(S) has not discussed or decided anything so far regarding moving a no-confidence motion against the government.
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The winter session of the Karnataka legislature will begin in Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, on December 8 and will go on till 19th of this month.
Not wanting to react to a question on the leadership issue, the CM said the Congress high command is very strong.
"D K Shivakumar and I will be committed to whatever the high command decides," he said.
Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied AICC Mallikarjun Kharge till airport from Vidhana Soudha, after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary, which had led to some speculation about possible discussion between the two on the leadership issue.
The power tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculation about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
However, both the CM and Deputy CM had recently held breakfast meetings at each others residences, on the instructions of the high command, which is seen as a move to pause the leadership tussle between the two and to signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as the CM for the time being, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature session.
