Govt's CVC choice meant to cover up scams: BJP

The BJP on Sunday alleged that the government's decision to appoint telecom secretary P J Thomas as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner was aimed at covering up the 2G spectrum scam and alleged irregularities in Commonwealth Games projects.

The BJP on Sunday alleged that the government's decision to appoint telecom secretary P J Thomas as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner was aimed at covering up the 2G spectrum scam and alleged irregularities in Commonwealth Games projects.

HT Image

"This decision is unacceptable to the BJP," said party spokesperson Tarun Vijay.

Terming the decision "shocking", Vijay lambasted the government for having taken it despite objections of Sushma Swaraj, who was on the committee to select the CVC as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

"Immediately after the Commonwealth Games, all the alleged financial irregularities will come to be inquired into by the CVC," Vijay pointed out.

As HT had reported, Sushma had objected to Thomas on the grounds that his name had figured in a vigilance inquiry and a probe into a palm oil import scandal when he was Kerala food secretary. He had also seen CVC reports on the 2G spectrum controversy as telecom secretary, and would thus lead to a conflict of interest, she pointed out.
Sushma had said she would support anyone but Thomas.

However, Home Minister P Chidambaram had disagreed with her contention, arguing that Thomas's name had been cleared in the probe, and that he had joined the telecom ministry only last October, and would thus have no conflict of interest on the 2G spectrum.

Thomas's name was finalised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram at a meeting with Sushma Swaraj after they overruled her objection.

The three members form a sort of a selection committee for the commissioner, who is supposed to be independent of the executive and guide the government against corruption.