LUCKNOW: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday attacked the Congress for linking the Centre’s decision to remove Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Alok Verma on Tuesday to a probe in the Rafale fighter jet deal. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Centre for meddling in the affairs of an autonomous constitutional body.
Speaking at an event to commemorate 100 years of the Railway Provincial Primary Co-operative Bank, Rajnath condemned the Congress for staging nationwide protests against the government’s action in the ongoing CBI imbroglio and claimed that the grand old party had no issue of relevance to raise, so it was misguiding the people of the country through misinformation and fact-twisting.
He advised the principal Opposition party to wait for the report of the probe that is ongoing. “An authority is already conducting a probe into the matter involving CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana. Congress should wait for the report to come before jumping to any conclusion,” said the home minister.
“Moreover, the issue is sub-judice in the Supreme Court of India. If the Congress thinks it is above the apex court, I don’t have anything to say. Actually, the Congress never takes any issue related to the common man to the streets. They only take an interest in non-issues,” he added.
Akhilesh meanwhile, said that the premier investigating agency had been used by subsequent dispensations as a tool to scare political rivals. “But now, it must be completely insulated against any interference from any quarter to maintain its autonomous character,” he added. He also joined the Congress’ chorus and demanded a probe into the Rafale deal by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Meanwhile, UP Congress workers, led by the party’s state chief Raj Babbar, protested at the CBI office in Lucknow.