Commission to hound Jaitley CDR, Dhumal issue in bid to harass BJP on poll-eve
In what seems like a copybook ploy to target BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the allegations of illegal phone-tapping and surveillance of a woman in Gujarat. Apart from snoopgate, the Commission will also look into the charges of illegally accessing the Call Detail Record (CDR) of leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley in Delhi, and allegations against former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dhumal for illegally tapping the phones of current Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
The commission is likely to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and will submit its report within three months.
The decision has been slammed by the BJP, which described it as “vendetta” and indicated it might move the court against it. Claiming that the decision encroached upon the federal structure of the Constitution, the BJP hoped that Chief Ministers from other parties will join the protest against the Centre’s move.
BJP president Rajnath Singh, leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and a host of party spokespersons launched a scathing attack on the Congress accusing it of using “fascist” and “Emergency-like” mindset in settling political scores with Modi, and of trying to “oppress” him by initiating a probe on an issue which is already under investigation by a State-appointed panel.
Singh said that the decision was an attempt to “tarnish” Modi’s image, and it will meet the same fate which other vindictive actions against him met in the past. “There have been many attempts in the past to target our popular leader and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi but he has always emerged stronger in every adversity,” Singh said in his reaction posted on his Facebook page.
“I am sure it will be legally challenged in courts. The setting up of this Commission (of Inquiry) violates the federal structure of the Constitution. It is an affront to the States. I hope other Chief Ministers also join in the protest against this action,” leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.
He added, “This action is politically motivated...The setting up of a parallel Commission by the Central Government ostensibly on the pretext of this issue covering more than one State is without any basis.”
He said the Congress has not learnt from the drubbing it got in the recent elections and has continued with its strategy of fighting Narendra Modi “not politically but through investigative agencies and now through a Commission of Inquiry.”
Questioning the decision, Jaitley said that it was curious that he did not hear from the Government about his CDR case for the last one year and now suddenly the Government has covered it under the Commission of Inquiry, which he never demanded.
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, “It is a clear case of political vindictiveness, it is a witch-hunt.... Clearly it is the fascist Congress with its Emergency mindset that has taken such a decision. BJP shall meet all the challenges and fight at every platform.”
“It is also an attack on the Centre-State relations,” she said, adding that “it is politically-motivated and not for justice”. Questioning the rationale behind establishing the inquiry, she said the enthusiasm with which it has been set up clearly shows where the Government’s priorities lie.
“The setting up of an inquiry into a matter which is entirely a State subject, when an inquiry has already been initiated, the Union Government is showing extraordinary exuberance.
“It smacks of the Congress party’s attitude to use any method to oppress its political opponent. It is a clear case of Congress getting back at Narendra Modi,” she said
Refuting BJP’s charges, Home Minister SK Shinde said that there was no vendetta or politics behind the decision. “Arun Jaitley’s CDR case will also be covered by the inquiry commission. Case relating to snooping on Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh when BJP was in power to be also probed,” said Shinde.
“The Cabinet has approved a proposal to set up a Commission of Inquiry under Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, to look into the incidents of physical/electronic surveillance in the states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, allegedly without authorisation,” an official release said.
The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet under Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act which empowers the Centre to set up such a commission. But the Centre was tightlipped on the legality of instituting a second Commission when the Gujarat Government had already instituted a Commission on the same issue. The case on accessing the CDRs of Jaitley has been already chargesheeted in a Delhi trial court.
The Centre’s decision overrules the contention of the Gujarat government that the matter was a state subject and that it has already appointed a Commission to probe it, said senior central government officials. The Union Cabinet’s decision came against the backdrop of fresh claims that the alleged snooping was conducted beyond the state of Gujarat.
Sinister design
lThe Commission will also look into allegations against former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dhumal for phone tapping of Virbhadra Singh
lBJP hopes that CMs from other parties will join the protest against the Centre’s move as the decision encroaches upon the federal structure of the Constitution
lBJP president Rajnath Singh launched a scathing attack on the Congress accusing it of using ‘fascist’ and ‘Emergency-like’ mindset in settling political scores with Modi