Jaitley’s misplaced anger on CBI over suspects
The assault by the centre on CBI has continued unabated. By dismissing Alok Verma from the post of Chief, the government had pointed out the limits to the premier investigating agency that cannot be crossed. For the government, it pretended as if it was an existential crisis to remove Verma from the post. Government wasn’t too happy with CBI being autonomous. If the agency had stepped ahead on Rafale investigation, the whole government would have been in trouble along with Modi. Many would have landed in jail.
After having dismissed the head of CBI, do other members even pose a challenge? Now the central government is eyeing the second line officers in CBI. Recently, CBI conducted a very important raid. It lodged an FIR against ICICI and Videocon Bank loan issue on Chanda Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar, Venugopal Dhoot and others. CBI officer Sudhanshu Dhar Misra is leading the case. He not only discovered this misdoing when he was the SP of Banking and Securities Fraud Cell, but also lodged an FIR against Chanda Kochhar without coming under anybody’s influence. CBI has put together a lot of documents to bolster it claims, since raids cannot be conducted without an FIR. The current culprits are corporates and hence the bankers have exercised maximum caution.
CBI staffers have seen what transpired with Alok Verma. Government has placed officers suitable to its agenda inside the CBI office. Now despite all this, if an FIR has been drawn up, it does mean the case is serious enough. If the witnesses in the case are not strong enough, they will be let off by the courts when the time comes. Soon as CBI prepared an FIR, Jaitley who had travelled abroad for treatment, criticized CBI right from there.
He said CBI was getting too ‘adventurous’ by projecting oneself as a hero. "There is a fundamental difference between investigative adventurism and professional investigation. Investigative adventurism involves casting the net too wide including people with no mens rea or even having a common intention to commit an offence, relying on presumptions and surmises with no legally admissible evidence. Adventurism leads to media leaks, ruins reputations and eventually invites strictures and not convictions. In the process, the targets are ruined because of harassment, loss of reputation and financial costs. It costs people their career," wrote Jaitely who is in the US for his treatment. Soon after his tweet, Sudhanshu Dhar was transferred proving this transfer was made owing to political pressure. This is another proof to show the depths CBI has been plumbing in the recent times.
What message is Jaitley trying to convey to CBI? Finance minister is also responsible if a bank overlooks the lending policy. Jaitley should have welcomed this decision by the CBI, instead of chiding the officers. What does he mean when he uses ‘adventurism’ as a message? Should the CBI not show its professionalism? Should the officers liaison with the cheating banks and maintain their balance? Even if the CBI officers had made a mistake, what was the need for Jaitley to hurriedly send out a tweet even when he was away in the US?
Central Government used the same CBI to attack the opposition party leaders, costing the agency its reputation. Now when CBI does things on its own, it is being termed as adventurism and whatnot. He has revealed himself before the media by openly tweeting like this. He seems to be deeply affected by CBI’s work. What is the need for CBI if it has to seek the permission of the centre before carrying out raids? The main nerve of CBI has already been severed. Now the other organs are also being cut. The situation now is that CBI cannot lodge an independent FIR or conduct raids even if the records suggest so. CBI is now limited to only ‘fix’ the opposition party leaders. Instead of spending lakhs and crores to maintain a defunct agency, it is better to shut shop forever.
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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.
