VIJAYAWADA: Condemning the ongoing developments in the CBI, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the fresh episode of CBI officials who are intended to tackle corruption involving in the same is a classic example of how the prestigious Central institutions are being destroyed by the BJP government.
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Holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the untoward happenings in the CBI, Naidu demanded that Modi give an explanation to the nation on the issue. “To cover up one mistake, the BJP leaders are making mistakes after mistakes and trying to frighten those questioning its misdeeds,” Naidu said, in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
He said relieving the CBI director from his responsibilities proved that no system will be allowed to function independently under the BJP regime.
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Recalling that Supreme Court gave clear guidelines ensuring independency and autonomy to the CBI, while hearing Vineet Narain Vs Union of India case, Naidu said the CBI director should be appointed by a committee comprising Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India. But, the way the Centre relieved CBI director Alok Verma in a “mid-night coup” stood as a testimony that the Centre is ignoring the directions of apex court. Naidu felt that such development are dangerous to the spirit of democracy. Seeking to know under which Act the Centre removed the CBI director, he said the Centre may be afraid that Alok Verma may inquire into the Rafale scam.
Many TDP leaders, including Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, flayed the Centre on the issue. Claiming that there were no allegations of corruption against the CBI before, Yanamala said the BJP leaders should feel ashamed of the fresh developments in the agency.