'PM misleads people on CVC's appointment'

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh "cannot be lying" on the controversial appointment of the Central Vigilance Commission but has "opted to mislead" the people on the issue and demanded sacking of the top official.

Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy termed as "most shocking and amazing" the solicitor general's contention before the Supreme Court that the selection panel had not been provided with all details on P J Thomas background before his appointment as the CVC.

"But we would not say the Prime Minister is lying. Of course, he can't be lying. It is very amusing that we can say the Prime Minister cannot lie. We know he cannot lie. And of course, he has opted, under whatsoever reasons, to mislead and get misled," Rudy stated.

He said "this establishes a culpability, the guilt of the Prime Minister" as well as that of Home Minister P Chidambaram who was present in the meeting.

The new CVC has almost refused to resign and the government should sack him, the BJP spokesman said. "Thomas has rebuffed all the attempts by the government and emissaries. There are some facts and revelations which indicate that a big lobby had worked to induct him and influenced the committee to see that he is inducted. Even the name of the Chief secretary of Maharashtra figures there," Rudy alleged.

The BJP spokesperson wondered why no one has till now mentioned former minister of state and now Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in the case but said it "seems all is falling in place".

"We do not know how much embarrassment the government would still prefer to have. Whether the government would like to have the sacking of the CVC from the Supreme Court. Whether the government is so weak and guilty that it does not have the courage to sack the CVC," Rudy said.

The BJP claimed that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had clearly told the panel that a prosecution case against Thomas was still pending in the court in the Kerala Palmolein import controversy.

The BJP expects the CVC to step down immediately in the interest of democracy. "Failing so, the Prime Minister must gather enough courage to sack him if he is not guilty and wants to vindicate his position," Rudy said.