UPA Ministers functioning as autonomous chieftains : BJP

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Stating that institutional abuse of the government departments for collateral purposes has been the 'hallmark' of the Ministers in the UPA coalition, the BJP today said that their actions were only vindicating and confirming the allegations that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in the seat but without power.

Obliquely referring to the attempt to remove AIIMS Director Dr Venugopal from his post by Union Health Minister Anrumani Ramadoss, BJP Spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said the ministers were functioning as 'autonomous chieftains' and the PM was absolutely unable to keep any check on them. He said this was not the case in the previous NDA government where even ministers from the regional parties had to function within the limits and the then PM was in control of the situation.

He said Railway Minister Lalu Prasad was allowed to have his way to appoint U C Banerjee Committee ahead of Bihar elections. The government was also trying to settle scores with NDA Convenor and former Defence Minister George Fernandes by raising Barak purchase controversy at a time when the Chiefs of Naval and Army staff were maintainting that it was the best missile system suited for Indian needs. All this only confirms that the ministers are allowed to function as chieftains and there was absolutely no check, he said.

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