Congress leaders from Gujarat on Tuesday accused that the BJP has been “misleading” the Parliament over Lokayukta’s appointment in the state. They met President Pratibha Patil and complained to her that the saffron party
has launched a “smear campaign” to discredit governor Kamla Beniwal.
A delegation of Congressmen from Gujarat, including PCC chief Arjun Modwadia, CLP leader Shaktisinh Gohil and former Union minister Shankarsinh Vaghela met Ms Patil to counter BJP’s offensive after its leaders led by L.K. Advani petitioned the President on Friday seeking recall of the governor for bypassing chief minister Modi while appointing the Lokayukta.
“Sushama Swaraj has misled the Parliament on the issue by saying the governor sat on for three years on a recommendation by the state government to appoint the Lokayukta. I have been a part of the process. All these are nothing but lies,” Mr Gohil alleged after meeting Ms Patil.
“...Narendra Modi has become desperate. Since the maximum funding of BJP comes from Gujarat.... Hence the entire BJP high command is on its toes to save the chief minister,” the CLP leader claimed.
In a four page memorandum submitted to the President by the delegation, which was led by AICC general secretary in-charge for the state Mohan Prakash, the state Congress leadership alleged that the BJP government in Gujarat was opposing the appointment of R.A. Mehata as Lokayukta as it is “scared” that as in Karnartaka, the Lokayukta in Gujarat will also expose the “massive wrong doings, irregularities and corrupt practices” in the state. Later, the party delegation also met Union home minister P. Chidambaram and is learnt to have apprised him almost the same thing, which they presented before the President.