PM rejects BJP's demand on appointment of Sinha as CBI chief

New Delhi, Nov.24 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party's demand to keep the appointment of new CBI Director Ranjit Sinha in abeyance.

In a letter to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, the Prime Minister said the CBI could not be kept without a head pending the enactment of the Lokpal and "the question of keeping the new appointment in abeyance does not arise."

The Prime Minister added, "The insinuation that appointment was to pre-empt the procedure recommended by the select committee is wholly unwarranted and devoid of any merit. I also refute the suggestion that appointments to this post in the past by UPA Government were motivated."

In a series of tweets, the PMO added, "As you are aware, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill 2011 is still awaiting passage in the Rajya Sabha. Many changes have been suggested by the Select Committee which are required to be considered by the Government for amendments. After the Bill as amended is duly passed by the Rajya Sabha, it will be returned to the Lok Sabha for further consideration. A premier agency like the CBI cannot be left without an administrative head pending the enactment of the new law."

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill are still awaiting passage in the Rajya Sabha and it was referred to a Select Committee which has tabled its report in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said. (ANI)

The PMO is in the habit of rejecting everything raised by the opposition initially.

Let us recall.

First: 2G scam in 2008

Second: CWG scam in 2010

Third: CVC appointment of Mr P J Thomas in Nov 2010

Finally they have had to eat dust in all the three cases.

Let us forget what the PMO says.

Let us again take the CBI directors appointment to the Supreme Court for it is only then will the government understand.

We must not only have an honest CBI head but he should also appear to be honest.

When already there are corruption charges against him for the Fodder case, he should not be appointed.