BJP lashes at govt for defending CVC''s appointment

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) BJP today cornered the governmentfor "defending" CVC P J Thomas in the Supreme Court, askingPrime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President SoniaGandhi as to what was the "compulsion" to defend the "tainted"official and attack an upright CAG.

"This is a curious position that the Government of Indiais unabashedly trying to defend a tainted CVC and unleashingan aggressive attack on an upright CAG. But in the process theinstitutional credibility of both is getting weakened," BJPspokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The government in an affidavit before the Supreme Courthad yesterday defended Thomas and his appointment as CVC.

Alleging that the government had "deliberately not doneits homework on some appointments", Prasad maintained thateven in the case of junior officers "due diligence" practised,but had been given the go-by while making Thomas the CVC.

"Dr Manmohan Singh, what is the compulsion that you areso aggressively defending the indefensible, namely the taintedCVC?" Prasad asked.

He cited a government circular dated September 14, 1992to argue that government servants under suspension, or againstwhom disciplinary action or criminal charges are pending canbe given only ad hoc promotions. He said the government has toensure while promoting an officer that it is not againstpublic interest.

"BJP would like to know from the government that if suchrestrictions are there in case of a simple officer of agovernment, are the same provisions not applicable in the caseof CVC?" he said, adding that "a proper criminal proceeding ispending against the CVC".

Prasad asked the Prime Minister why despite Leader ofOpposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj''s objection to Thomas''appointment as CVC, the government had gone ahead.

"In the light of all this, the Prime Minister shouldtell us that even the appointment of a simple officer in hisgovernment is done with due diligence, but this was done forthe senior-most official and watchdog of corruption?" Prasadsaid.

BJP also posed questions to Congress President SoniaGandhi while taking digs at her five-points for fightingcorruption.

"I want to ask Sonia Gandhi, you are giving five bulletpoints of do''s and don''ts to Congressmen to preventcorruption. Madam, Sonia Gandhi there are no do''s and don''tsin case of CVC? Certainly the country is entitled to know,"Prasad said.