Govt denigrates CBI, make changes in Lokpal, says Jaitley
1 May 2013 7:17 AM IST
Terming the Supreme Court rap on the coal issue as well deserved, Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley on Tuesday charged the government with denigrating the institution of law officers that led to this embarrassment and sought changes in the Lokpal legislation. He asked the government to accept the suggestions made by him and his colleagues to the select committee looking into the Lokpal legislation that will help restore credibility of such institutions and rebuild them.
In the wake of the recent controversy relating to alleged interference of Law Minister Ashwini Kumar and officials of PMO and the Coal Ministry in preparation of status report for the apex court on the coal scam, Jaitley, said it has reaffirmed the often repeated charge of the government interfering in CBI’s functioning.
‘The UPA government has denigrated the institution of the Law Officers. It is this failing institution that has today embarrassed the UPA government. The rap that the government received from the apex court on this issue was well deserved. The delinquent must be held accountable,’ wrote Jaitley in his blog.
The BJP leader was of the opinion that this is an occasion where the government must display some sense of responsibility and accept the suggestions which we made to the Select Committee on the Lokpal legislation. ‘Since we live in an age where institutions are being gradually eroded, it is necessary that unless we are able to reconstruct and rebuild these institutions, there should be a panel of lawyers independent of the government which must advise and appear for CBI. These lawyers must be appointed by the Director of Prosecution with the prior approval of the Lokpal,’ said Jaitley.
While on the campaign trail in Karnataka, for the upcoming Assembly polls said that the coal draft should be made public so that the final report can be compared.
Both houses of parliament were on Tuesday disrupted over the allocation of coal blocks, and were adjourned till 2 May after the Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill for the 2013-14 fiscal.
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been pressing for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation over the coal blocks allocations.
In the wake of the recent controversy relating to alleged interference of Law Minister Ashwini Kumar and officials of PMO and the Coal Ministry in preparation of status report for the apex court on the coal scam, Jaitley, said it has reaffirmed the often repeated charge of the government interfering in CBI’s functioning.
‘The UPA government has denigrated the institution of the Law Officers. It is this failing institution that has today embarrassed the UPA government. The rap that the government received from the apex court on this issue was well deserved. The delinquent must be held accountable,’ wrote Jaitley in his blog.
The BJP leader was of the opinion that this is an occasion where the government must display some sense of responsibility and accept the suggestions which we made to the Select Committee on the Lokpal legislation. ‘Since we live in an age where institutions are being gradually eroded, it is necessary that unless we are able to reconstruct and rebuild these institutions, there should be a panel of lawyers independent of the government which must advise and appear for CBI. These lawyers must be appointed by the Director of Prosecution with the prior approval of the Lokpal,’ said Jaitley.
While on the campaign trail in Karnataka, for the upcoming Assembly polls said that the coal draft should be made public so that the final report can be compared.
Both houses of parliament were on Tuesday disrupted over the allocation of coal blocks, and were adjourned till 2 May after the Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill for the 2013-14 fiscal.
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been pressing for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation over the coal blocks allocations.
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