The CPI(M) on Sunday called for political consensus in ensuring professional independence in the working of CBI in the wake of criticism of the agency's decision to remove Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi from Interpol's list of wanted people.
"The question before the country is that after nearly 20 years, we still do not know what is the truth. The CPI(M) has been saying all political parties will have to think how to maintain the independence of the CBI," CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said on the sidelines of a seminar in Kolkata.
The CBI recently withdrew the name of Quattrocchi, who is an accused in the alleged Bofors scam, from the Red Corner Notice, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties.
Asked to comment on BJP leader L K Advani's reported statement that the CBI was being used politically, he said, "Mr Advani was in power for six years. He himself was the Home Minister. After that, the Congress was in power for five years. In so many years, there had not been any complete investigation."
When told that even the United Front government, which was supported by the Left and in which CPI veteran Indrajit Gupta was the Home minister, had done nothing to conclude the investigation into the Bofors scam, he said, "but I am raising a broader issue: in 20 years, nothing on the matter has come forward. This is a clear failure of the entire system that needs to be corrected."
{{/usCountry}}When told that even the United Front government, which was supported by the Left and in which CPI veteran Indrajit Gupta was the Home minister, had done nothing to conclude the investigation into the Bofors scam, he said, "but I am raising a broader issue: in 20 years, nothing on the matter has come forward. This is a clear failure of the entire system that needs to be corrected."
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