BJP spokeperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said that in view of the order of the honourable Supreme Court, 'the time has come for Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to introspect.'
Addressing a press conference in the Parliament, Prasad demanded that responsibility must be fixed for overlooking the objections raised by Sushma Swaraj to the appointment of Thomas as CVC.
The appointment of CVC was done by a three-member panel headed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The other two members were Home Minister P Chidambaram and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
"The BJP welcomes the Supreme Court judgment quashing the appointment of the CVC. The judgment of the Supreme Court has restored the dignity of the office of CVC and upheld the rule of law and democratic propriety. Integrity and independence are the most important qualities for appointment to the post of CVC. Integrity particularly is indeed very significant
because the CVC is the most important institution in monitoring and inquiry into cases of corruption," he said.
Prasad also said that it was surprising and curious that both the PM and the Home Minister insisted that the appointment had to be made on the date of the meeting itself.
"Now, the Supreme Court has quashed the appointment and held that as all the relevant facts about Mr. Thomas were not furnished beforehand, therefore, he could not have been appointed at all. The prime minister could not postpone the decision even for a day to verify the facts given by Swaraj. The appointment of PJ Thomas was done with a design as the government wanted to have a pliant officer as CVC because the 2G scam was under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the CVC exercises a decisive influence and monitoring over the CBI. In fact, the CVC approves the appointment of the CBI Director," Prasad alleged.
He parried a question when asked if the party was demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Dr Singh. " I cannot be more explicit in my wordings," he added.
