BJP wants people’s faith in CBI to continue

NEW DELHI: In its first reaction on the ongoing fight between the top two officers of the CBI, the BJP on Monday expressed concern about its implications for the credibility of the investigating agency.

“There are two reports, one is against the director and another against the special director. We would like people’s faith in the institution of the CBI to continue,” BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said at a press conference, even as she refrained from taking sides with either of the protagonists.

She added that the government was concerned about the agency’s credibility and would take action to ensure it was not eroded. Asked about the agency registering a case against its own special director, she said there was also a report against its director Alok Verma, a reference to his deputy Rakesh Asthana’s complaint against him.


The central government will put forth its views on the matter, she said, adding that the party would speak on such a serious matter later. Lekhi attacked Congress over registration of a rape case against former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy, saying its president Rahul Gandhi should now stop mocking the Narendra Modi government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme.

Lekhi said Chandy and former Union minister K C Venugopal, also an accused in the case, were Rahul’s “friends” and Congress should answer on such a serious charge against its leaders, instead of targeting the ruling party’s functionaries.

She also referred to a ‘Sukanya case’, alleging that it was against Rahul, and other cases involving Congress leaders. Targeting Rahul for his attack on the Centre’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme, Lekhi said it had led to an improvement in the sex ratio in many states.

The crime branch of Kerala police has registered cases against Chandy and Venugopal, who is an MP, on a complaint of sexual misconduct filed by ‘solar scam’ accused Saritha Nair. Lekhi also parried Congress's allegations against finance minister Arun Jaitley, saying the opposition party should instead answer questions on the charges against Chandy and Venugopal.