Gujarat Lokayukta case: Cong accuses Modi of hypocrisy

New Delhi, Jan 18: Congress on Wednesday used the Gujarat high court order on Lokayukta to attack chief minister Narendra Modi, saying the verdict was another judicial confirmation of his "hypocrisy" and the "double standards" of BJP.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said while the BJP shouts for Lokpal from the rooftops in Delhi, it not only keeps the Lokayukta position in its state vacant for nine long years but also further "delays" it by challenging the joint nomination for it made by high functionaries like Gujarat governor and state Chief Justice.

Reacting to the Gujarat high court upholding the appointment of Lokayukta by the governor, Singhvi told PTI, "This is yet another judicial confirmation of Modi's hypocrisy and double standards of BJP...The high court has rightly rebuffed such stalling and obstructionist tactics."

"BJP has always believed that what is applicable in Delhi should not apply in Gujarat and what is okay in Gujarat is bad for Delhi," he said.

Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal had appointed Retired Justice R A Mehta on the post of Lokayukta on August 25 last year. The post was lying vacant for eight years prior to that.

The Gujarat government, led by Modi, had gone all out to oppose the appointment of Lokayukta by the governor for "bypassing the state government".

On October 11, a division bench of Gujarat high court had given a split verdict on the appointment of Lokayukta by the governor. While Justice Kureshi had upheld the decision of Governor, Justice Gokani had quashed the warrant of appoint issued by the governor terming it unconstitutional.

Justice V M Sahai, who was given the task of hearing the petition challenging the appointment of Lokayukta following the split verdict by the division bench, said, "I could not agree with Justice Sonia Gokani of the division bench on the points of difference, which were referred to me."

He, however, said that, "I concur with the views of my brother judge Akil Kureshi....Hence, the government petition is dismissed".

PTI