PM's criticism of CAG 'Unwarranted' & 'regrettable': BJP

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday sharpened its tirade against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying his criticism of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) showed apathy in dealing with corruption. Dubbing as “unwarranted” and “deeply regrettable” the prime minister’s castigation of CAG, which had come out with reports on the 2G scam and alleged favours to oil firms, the BJP said most conclusions of the panel were found to be correct in investigation by the CBI. “We want to ask the prime minister—you are criticising the opposition , the media and also the CAG.

Thank God you have spared the Supreme Court,” BJP’s chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said. He said the comment on CAG was a serious matter concerning “probity and propriety in governance” and claimed that this was the first time that a prime minister was openly criticizing it. “You are critical of whoever is talking against corruption. The prime minister is giving signals that you are not firm in taking action against the cancer of corruption.”

The prime minister had said in his interaction with editors on Wednesday never in the past has the CAG held a press conference or decided to comment on a policy issue. “It should limit the office to the role defined in the Constitution ,” he had said.

Prasad said that with Singh’s vast bureaucratic and governmental experience, he would know that the manner of implementation of policy can be examined by CAG and there was a constitutional process about its preparation and acceptance by Parliament. He also refuted the Prime Minister’s statement that corruption was an aberration in his government.