The Congress on Thursday said that CBI’s handling of the Coalgate investigations shows that the agency functions independently. It dismissed the Opposition’s demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should be grilled.
“Whatever the PM had to say he has already said in Parliament. Now the matter is between the court and the CBI. One should not jump to a conclusion. We have always vouched for PM’s integrity and will continue to do so. Unki sharafat ko kamzori na mana jaye (One should also not take advantage of his (PMs) generosity),” said Congress Spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary.
The party also took the opportunity to point that the handling of several cases in recent times has proved that CBI’s autonomy remains intact and there has been no attempt to interfere by the Government in its day-to-day functioning.
“This proves that CBI is independent and free from Government bondage as portrayed by people (Opposition parties) so far,” Chowdhary said when asked about the autonomy status of the CBI by reporters at AICC headquarters.
To a question that Cabinet is divided over noted industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla being named by the agency in Coalgate, the party said there is nothing wrong in Ministers expressing the industrialists’ concern over the entire matter.
While Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot said such a development will dampen investment sentiment the Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma termed it as unfortunate.
To a question on whether AICC will ask its Ministers not to jump the gun, she said it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.
“There is no question of undermining any agency or protecting any individual. The Ministers meant to say that when these sorts of accusations pour every one speculates, and any kind of speculation will have a negative impact on the industrial growth, atmosphere. No one has said that you should protect individuals. Nobody has said that,” Chowdhary said rejecting the Opposition’s attack over the Ministers’s remarks.
The former Union Minister also said when one talks about an individual or a person, one sees who is that person and what he or she is.
She said Congress was not undermining any agency (CBI) and that Commerce Minister has expressed an opinion to keep up the commerce initiatives taken by the government to restore economic growth. Defending Union Ministers remarks, Chowdhary said “in a way they are bolstering the confidence of industrialists”.