Modi govt trying to appoint corrupt people: Prashant Bhushan

Patna, May 31: Expelled Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Prashant Bhushan on Sunday accused Narendra Modi government of trying to appoint "corrupt" people in anti-corruption bodies and "saffronise" academic institutions during the first year of its term.

"The shortlist made to appoint Central Vigilance Commissioner revealed that the topmost name was of a corrupt Income Tax officer who sat on the information regarding black money provided by Swiss bank HSBC. He used to meet former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha stealthily as he was probing him," Bhushan said.

"We know that the CVC appointments have been postponed for now, but full efforts are being made by the Modi government to appoint corrupt people to anti-corruption institutions," he said.

Bhusan also alleged that, "efforts are being made to saffronise institutions like UGC, NCERT, Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and other such bodies.

The kind of people is being appointed who will take the country to superstitions. Even our HRD Minister goes to astrologer, shows her palm and asks when she will become the President of India."

Bhushan, along with another former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav, was talking to media persons on the sidelines of the 'Swaraj Abhiyan' organised in the state capital.

Speaking further, the lawyer-turned-leader said the vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC) were not being filled due to which the citizens of the country were unable to get information regarding the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

"Black money is not coming back to our country as promised by them (the Modi government), but they are trying to interfere in the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and the High Courts through National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)," he said.

Bhushan said he had told Modi to check black money first in the country, which was invested here itself, but that did not happen. He also did not constitute a Lokpal even though a law regarding it was already present.

Bhushan, however, had some words of praise for the Modi-led NDA government, saying "no big scam has come to light so far" like the previous Congress-led UPA government "which was very corrupt". But, the former AAP leader quickly added that scams come to light after CAG audit and this takes time.

He alleged that the government was maintaining silence in cases of communal incitement and "organisations connected to the RSS are trying to do it in several places like they did at Faridabad, Muzaffarnagar and Delhi."

Bhushan charged the Modi government of "violating the Constitution" by bringing Land Acquisition Ordinance thrice, fully knowing that they could not get it through Parliament.

Meanwhile, he praised the Congress that it did take a few decisions in the interest of the common people" despite being very corrupt.

These included the change in the Land Acquisition Laws of the 19th century in 2013 and bringing in provisions like assent of 80 per cent of people from whom land was to be acquired, as well as, social impact assessment.

Bhushan said that the Modi government was trying to shut down MNREGA and other good works done by the Congress so that "profits of the big industrialists" in the country rose quickly.

PTI