The Government and the Congress on Wednesday vehemently rejected Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s charge that CBI is misused by the Government to intimidate and put political rivals into jail.
The Congress even tried to mollify Mulayam, support of whose 22 MPs is crucial for sustaining the UPA Government at the Centre, by directing Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma to show restraint. Beni fell in line and announced a ceasefire against SP leader.
Beni, who had recently entered into war of words with SP, was summoned by Congress General Secretary Janaradan Dwivedi at AICC headquarters and directed to exercise restraint to avoid annoying Mulayam. “I will observe ceasefire, if it is observed from their side,” a mellowed Beni said after the meeting indicating that he got a dressing down from the party.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari tried to placate Mulayam by saying, “We have always treated each ally with deference whether they are part of the Government or outside. We have never lost in showing basic courtesy.”
Rejecting the SP leader’s apprehension that CBI can be used to put in jail, Manish said “The work of investigative agency is subject to judicial scrutiny and supervision. But no court in the past nine years have passed any stricture against the Government for alleged misuse of CBI.”
Congress spokesman PC Chacko also claimed that the Government and CBI doesn’t indulge in vindictive action. Asserting that CBI is the most honest organisation, he said that no citizen should have any doubt about it. He said that all parties be it SP, BSP, DMK and BJP’s criticism about misuse of CBI is just a coincidence and part of political sloganeering against the Government.
Expressing similar sentiments, Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy also claimed that CBI is never used for arm twisting any ally. CBI is functioning independently and it has been proved from the fact that Supreme Court, High Courts and even opposition ruled states seek CBI probe into various incidents.