BJP appeal to Prez on CVC

The BJP on Monday appealed to the President not to sign the order appointing telecom secretary P J Thomas the next Central Vigilance Commissioner.

The BJP on Monday appealed to the President not to sign the order appointing telecom secretary P J Thomas the next Central Vigilance Commissioner.

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The party continued its attack on the selection of Thomas on Monday, referring to a 1998 ruling of the Supreme Court that the central vigilance commissioner shall be an officer of "impeccable integrity".

BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Supreme Court had said in the Vineet Narain And Others vs Union of India And Another case that "selection for the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner shall be made by a Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition from a panel of outstanding civil servants and others with impeccable integrity…"

Prasad then said whether an officer who had himself faced charges of corruption could be considered to have "impeccable integrity".

He then reiterated that the probe into the 2-G spectrum allocation would be watered down when handled by someone who has been secretary in the concerned ministry, even if after the time of the allocation.

"Did Mr Thomas undertake remedial measures or complain to the CVC or cabinet secretary in the 2-G spectrum He did nothing as telecom secretary on this major scam. Moreover, when he was telecom secretary his office said that the CVC cannot look at the 2-G spectrum scam," Prasad said.

He added that under the UPA government constitutional offices and institutions were deliberately being destroyed by the appointment of questionable people.