New Delhi: Targeting the political class, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal today accused the BJP and the Congress of misusing the CBI while in power.
He also took on Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee for not
being vocal about Lokpal like she was on the issue of
FDI-in-retail.
"Successive governments have misused the CBI," Kejriwal
said while addressing a gathering at Jantar Mantar, the venue
of the day-long fast of Anna Hazare.
Kejriwal also criticised the government in the Taj
Corridor case, alleging that the CBI had told the Supreme
Court at one point that no case was made out against BSP
supremo Mayawati.
"In August 2003, the CBI filed a case against Mayawati
and in 2005, she was questioned. But in 2007, UP Governor T V
Rajeshwar Rao, who was perceived to be a Congress supporter,
refused permission for filing an FIR.
"In return, Mayawati supported the Congress and voted in
favour of its Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil. In April
2010, the CBI told the Supreme Court that they are closing the
case against her. Then she supported the UPA during a cut
motion. But in September this year, the CBI said it was going
to charge sheet her as they have evidence against her," he
said.
Kejriwal also accused the BJP of using the CBI against
Jayalalithaa with the support of the DMK.
The Congress High Command, Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi were also targeted
by Kejriwal.
Sibal came in for criticism for limiting the number of
SMSs to 200 per mobile number and his efforts to monitor
inflammatory content in social networking sites, with Kejriwal
alleging that these were meant to curb Hazare`s campaign. Kejriwal`s comments came ahead of politicians taking the
stage at Jantar Mantar.
Attacking the Congress leadership, Kejriwal said,
"Culture of the High Command is biggest threat to our
culture. Is our country a true democracy? The Prime Minister
writes a letter to Anna, says Parliament resolution accepts
lower bureaucracy and Lokayukta demands but the Standing
Committee throws this letter in dustbin.
"The Standing Committee trashed the PM`s letter but
accepts the suggestion that Lokpal should have a
constitutional status. Why? Because Rahul Gandhi wants it so
neither the Prime Minister matters, nor Parliament.
"Only one man`s suggestion matters. This is democracy by
the High Command, for the High Command (and) of the High
Command," he said, adding after being elected, the MPs do not
ask people what kind of law they want.
Instead, he claimed, they asks the party High Command as
to how they want the law to be.
"Laws in Parliament are not to be made in accordance with
people`s wishes but in accordance with the High Command`s
wishes," he alleged.
"For five years, only one or two people matter in the
party and they rule as kings and queens of the country without
giving any answers to the country. We are not referring to
just one party but all of them where such High Command culture
is being followed," he said.
Referring to Mamata Banerjee, he asked why she was silent
on the Lokpal issue. "Why is Mamata silent on this issue? She
played a good role on FDI in retail."
He also referred to the Bihar Chief Minister saying that
they respected him, but added that they will protest against a
"weak" draft of the Lokayukta bill in his state.
PTI
