Cong attacking bodies working for public: Joshi

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Saturday charged the Centre with attacking constitutional institutions working in the interest of the people and said it was harmful for the nation.

"It is the duty and responsibility of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Public Accounts Committee to protect public money and its proper utilisation. Unfortunately, the Congress is attacking both the institutions. This is harmful for the nation," Joshi told a news conference in Ranchi.

Accusing the Congress leadership of trying to suppress investigations into the series of scams that surfaced during the United Progressive Alliance government, Joshi said that he was surprised at Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's assertion that the CAG had never convened a press conference in the past.

"The CAG has always issued press statements on its reports after placing the same in Parliament. Even a high court has said there is no wrong in CAG going to the press. But the importance of this CAG press conference was its disclosure of an estimated Rs 1.76 lakh crore scam," Joshi said.

"As the CAG had termed it as an estimated amount, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal should have investigated the matter to find out the exact amount, but he claimed there had been no loss," he added. 

Disagreeing with the PM's assertion that former telecom minister A Raja had "misled" him in the 2G spectrum issue, Joshi claimed that it was his advisers who were giving him wrong information.

"I am also surprised to note the prime minister's attack on the media saying the media has become an accuser, prosecutor and judge. If issues are right, naturally there will be a reaction," he said.

Amid reports of cabinet reshuffle, Joshi demanded that Home Minister P Chidambaram be removed from his ministry claiming he faced varying allegations.

"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa raised an election scam against him. He was the finance minister during the 2G scam and he is home minister when the controversial wrong list of terrorists was submitted to

Pakistan. He should not be in the Cabinet following all these serious charges against him," Joshi said.

Chidambaram recently reacted to Jayalalithaa questioning his election from Shivaganga Lok Sabha seat, saying the matter was pending before the court and that such statements amounted to gross contempt of court.