HM''s stand on CVC vindicates party stand, says BJP

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) BJP today said the comments ofHome Minister P Chidambaram on the CVC selection issuevindicates the stand of the party and Leader of the Oppositionin the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj that the government wasinformed about the Palmolien case pending against P J Thomas.

"Home Minister P Chidambaram''s briefing has onlyconfirmed the position that Leader of the Opposition in LokSabha Sushma Swaraj had taken as regards the meeting on CVC.

A detailed discussion indeed took place on the Palmolein caseand the charge sheet against P J Thomas," BJP spokespersonNirmala Sitharaman said.

Chidambaram today said the Selection Committee meetingto choose the Central Vigilance Commissioner in September lastyear did discuss the issue of Palmolein case against Thomas.

"We did discuss the names of the panel. In fact, the bulkof the time (of discussion) was regarding P J Thomas andPalmolein case. She (Swaraj) made her points, the othermembers (PM and HM) of the Committee made their points," theHome Minister said.

Chidambaram''s remarks came against the backdrop ofSolicitor General''s contention in court last week that detailsof the cases pending against Thomas were not provided to theselection panel.

Sitharaman insisted that Swaraj had brought to the noticeof Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram the casepending against Thomas and suggested that any of the other twonames in the panel could be chosen for the CVC''s post.

She said when the government remained adamant on choosingThomas, Swaraj was "constrained" to give in writing that shedisagreed with the choice.

"BJP feels its stand has been vindicated. The issue wasdiscussed widely. Government indeed knew of the case pendingand Thomas being part of the charge sheet and his name notbeing cleared," Sitharaman said.

The BJP spokesperson maintained that Swaraj had so farstayed away from filing any case on the issue but now when thecourt has taken cognisance of the matter, she has chosen tofile an affidavit.

Swaraj, who is away in Kerala to meet family members offishermen killed by Sri Lankan Navy, is expected to come outwith a statement soon on the issue, party sources said.