Modi slams govt’s ‘pick-and-choose CBI use’
Combative Gujrat chief minister Narendra Modi, who is embroiled in a fake encounter controversy, on Saturday, attacked the Centre for pursuing “pick and choose” policy in using CBI against his ministerial colleague and state home minister Amit Shah. He said, the Centre is using the investigative agency as a “political tool” against his government to settle scores.
Meanwhile, the BJP, while going hammer and tongs after Mr Shah’s resignation, said it fully supports Mr Modi and any move to target him will “boomerang” on the Congress.
Home minister P. Chidambaram however, pointed out that the CBI had filed the case against Mr Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case as per the direction of the Supreme Court and senior BJP leader and lawyer Arun Jaitley should have taken note of it.
Mr Modi maintained that Mr Shah is innocent. “He has gone to the court and he will follow the court directive. This is my belief. He is a law-abiding citizen... Judiciary is above CBI,” he said.
When it was pointed out that it was a Supreme Court monitored investigation, he said, “There are so many matters pending with the CBI. Why has Gujarat been prioritised. There is politics behind it. There have been more than 700 cases of encounter in the country. Out of these, several cases are pending before the National Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court. This is a case of pick and choose against Gujarat. CBI is being used as a political weapon to settle political scores.”
Mr Modi also raised the issue of the delay in the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, asking when the Supreme Court had endorsed Guru’s execution, why is he yet to be hanged.
“The matter is still pending. Whenever home minister talks about Afzal Guru, there is always the talk of serial number,” he added.
Mr Modi however, ducked the repeated queries on the whereabouts of Mr Shah, who is yet to appear before the CBI. Lamenting the Centre Mr Modi said, “People, who have failed to check price rise, have shown their back during Indo-Pak talks and can’t find a solution to the Jammu and Kashmir issue, are trying to change the agenda to divert attention. There is an atmosphere of war against the state.”
Meanwhile Mr Chidambaram said, “Why this belated and simulated anger. Why express this anger lately. They should have said this in January when Supreme Court handed over the matter to CBI.”
Mr Shah was chargesheeted on Friday by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the fake encounter case. He submitted his resignation later in the day.
“This was a Supreme Court directive and at least (BJP leader) Arun Jaitley should have read it. He is a lawyer. He should have raised it and they should have raised it in January, why raise it now,” Mr Chidamabram asked.
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