CPM's Salim slams cash-for-vote probe

Communist Party of India-Marxist parliamentarian, Mohammad Salim attached a dissenting note, requesting the chairman of the committee, probing the cash-for vote incident, to use it appropriately. Salim charged that the committee had failed to live up to the expectations of the people in this matter of national importance. he also claimed that the committe was prevented from reaching any conclusion to protect the 'big fish'.

"It is a matter of great concern that money power is playing havoc with the system. The current episode shows how illegal money was used on an unprecedented scale to vitiate the democratic system. Fundamental issues are being decided through allurement and offers of huge amounts of money. If we fail to uncover the truth behind the cash-for-vote, the culprits will remain free due to lack of political will," Salim wrote in his dissenting note.

Salim said the dissent note he had submitted to the committee, headed by V Krishna Chandra S Deo, was "more than edited" in the final report. Deo, however, told reporters separately that only those portions which cast "aspersions" had been removed.

Salim noted that the local police did not even think it proper to register an FIR and start investigations. "Both bribe giving and bribe-taking are offences under the Indian Penal Code. It was rightly pointed out by the Speaker immediately after the incident as it was a very sad day in the history of Parliament,"  The noted parliamentarian said.

He pointed out that the committee was not allowed to hear key witnesses. "Instead of going to the bottom of the matter it was suggested that the probe should be given to a government agency for further investigation. We all know that when a huge sum of money is withdrawn there is a marking of the bank, but the committee was denied such information," he wrote.

Rajdeep Sardesai, head of  news channel CNN IBN, in his appearance before the committee said. "We have nothing to hide in those tapes. We could have submitted those tapes on day one itself. Whatever we had, we have put it in the public domain. It is now for the politicians and Parliament to sort out the matter and whatever they decide we would respect it."