BJP seeks formal answer from Manmohan Singh on Katju's allegations

The Bharatiya Janata Party asked former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress to answer allegations of “improper compromises” by three former chief justices of India during the United Progressive Alliance rule, saying the matter was “unfortunate”.

“Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress should come forward and answer the allegations of how different constitutional bodies, including the Judiciary, were misused for political reasons. It is unfortunate and a matter of serious concern,” BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

He said Congress and corruption “are made for each other” and the “jugglery” of judicial appointments made by UPA is another example of how the Congress “misused” constitutional bodies.

Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju, now Chairman of Press Council of India, had on Monday triggered a controversy by alleging that three ex-Chief Justices of India made “improper compromises” during UPA rule in allowing a judge in Tamil Nadu under corruption cloud to continue in office.

The BJP MPs, who met in the Central Hall of Parliament at a meeting of BJP Parliamentary Party chaired by Prime Minister and leader of the party Narendra Modi, also lauded his role for effectively raising India’s concerns at the just-concluded BRICS summit in Brazil.

The party leaders also congratulated the Prime Minister for getting India the leadership of the BRICS Bank.

The party also decided to hold a week-long training camp for personal assistants of BJP MPs in Rambhau Parbodhini in Mumbai.

Naqvi also asked all MPs to participate in debates on bills in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the current session.