New Delhi: Under attack after Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh blamed him, Maharashtra Chief Minister
Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday accused Kerala Chief Minister V S
Achutanandan of misquoting him on the CVC issue.
Asked about Achutanandan accusing him of "lying"
regarding his reported remarks on appointment of P J Thomas as
Kerala Chief Secretary , he said "my statment was misquoted
and twisted by the Chief Minister of Kerala".
"All I had said in my press conference in Pune was that
Thomas was appointed Chief Secretary by Government of Kerala,"
he said.
Achutanandan had said that Chavan was trying to hide his
fault by blaming the Kerala government.
In Pune, Chavan had sought to pass the buck to the
Kerala government. He had said DoPT had suggested three names
-- two retired officers and one serving-- for the post of CVC.
One of them was Chief Secretary in a state to be brought to
Delhi. "Vigilance clearance is done by the state," Chavan had
said.
On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement, Chavan
said "I would like to clarify right now, after what Prime
Minister has clarified, I have nothing more to add."
Chavan was the Minister of State for Personnel when the
controversial appointment of Thomas as CVC was made in
September last year.
He was asked to comment on Singh's statement in the Lok
Sabha two days back which virtually blamed him for omitting to
mention the chargesheet pending against Thomas before the
high-power committee headed by the Prime Minister.
"The Prime Minister has made a very clear statement in
the House. I dont think anything further needs to be said," he
said to a volley of questions on the issue.
Asked why Thomas was empanelled as Secretary to the
Government of India despite a chargesheet against him, Chavan
said "that question needs to be answered. You need to know the
process of how it happens. You must ask the people who are
involved in the process". He did not clarify further.
Sources admitted that there was an error in recommending
Thomas' name, but said these things are done at the level of
officials and Chavan might not be personally responsible for
it.
When pointed out that the BJP was taking up the matter
forcefully in Maharashtra, Chavan merely said "I will reply to
them in Mumbai when the state assembly begins on Monday".
The sources said Chavan was asked to give a panel of
three names for consideration for the post of the Central
Vigilance Commissioner, which he had done.
Besides Thomas, then a serving Secretary, Chavan had
suggested names of two former government officers.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 23:41