Kejriwal reposts Modi's old tweet to target him over internal feud in CBI
New Delhi, Oct 24: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday sought to corner the prime minister over CBI's internal feud, retweeting Narendra Modi's 2013 tweet in which he had slammed the then UPA government for allegedly undermining the intelligence system of the country.
The government Wednesday sent CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave as the two officers were involved in a spat between them.
In a series of tweets, Kejriwal questioned the Modi government's authority to send the CBI director on leave and wondered if the move was related with the Rafale deal.
Kejriwal retweeted Modi's June 5, 2013 tweet in which he had said it was "Unfortunate that in its quest to target political opponents, Centre is undermining intelligence systems with CBI questioning IB officials."
The Congress-led UPA was in power in 2013.
The prime minister-led Appointments Committee Tuesday night gave charge of the director to Joint Director M Nageswara Rao with immediate effect, a government order said.
Kejriwal sought to know from the government reasons behind Verma's removal and questioned if it was trying to "hide" anything.
"What are the reasons for sending CBI director on leave? Under which law did the Modi govt get the authority to initiate action against the chief of an investigating agency appointed as per the Lokpal Act? What is Modi govt trying to hide?" he said in one of his tweets.
In another tweet, he insinuated that the move may be "co-related" the to Rafale deal that has been questioned by the Opposition parties as a "scam".
"Is there a co-relation between (sic) Rafale deal and removal of Alok Verma? Was Alok Verma about to start investigations into Rafale, which could become problem for Modi ji? (sic)" he tweeted.
Later, addressing a gathering at an event in Tri Nagar area, Kejriwal alleged, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suspended the CBI director at 3 am. Do you know this? Why? I tell you that the Modi government is buying one Rafale fighter jet with a cost of Rs 1,500 crore instead of its original cost of Rs 546 crore. They are doing a scam of Rs 36,000 crore in buying 36 Rafale jets.
"When the CBI director (Alok Verma), who is an honest person, started investigation in the case, he was suddenly transferred at 3 am."
He also alleged, "The CBI director was to register a case (in connection with procurement of Rafale fighter jets) next day. He was transferred...at 3 am."
Unfortunate that in its quest to target political opponents, Centre is undermining intelligence systems with CBI questioning IB officials.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2013
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Assam polls: BJP releases first list of 88 candidates, CM Sarma to contest from Jalukbari
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Thursday released its first list of 88 candidates for the Assam assembly polls, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari seat.
The party named former Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi as its candidate from Dispur assembly seat. Bordoloi joined the BJP in the presence of Sarma and other party leaders here on Wednesday.
According to the list, Bhupen Kumar Borah, who also joined the BJP recently after leaving the Congress, will contest from Bihpura seat.
Madhavi Das will enter the fray from Birsing-Jarua, Jyotsana Kalita from Chamaria and Nilima Devi from Mangaldai.
The first list of candidates was finalised by the BJP's Central Election Committee at its meeting presided over by party president Nitin Nabin here on Wednesday evening.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other members of the BJP poll body.
BJP Assam unit chief Dilip Saikia was also present at the meeting.
