Training guns at the UPA Government after the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the appointment of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr P.J. Thomas, the BJP demanded a statement from the Government in Parliament on the “serious” matter specifying where the “mistake” was committed.

Holding the Prime Minister and the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, “morally responsible”, the Chairman of BJP Parliamentary Party, Mr L.K. Advani, told reporters here: “In the last 60 years, it has never happened that an appointment made by the Prime Minister himself has been declared illegal by the Supreme Court.”

The BJP president, Mr Nitin Gadkari, said the quashing of the appointment was a “slap” on the Government's face.

The Left parties termed the quashing of Mr Thomas's appointment as “another serious blow” to the Government, which was already facing major corruption cases. “Now the Government, which is facing major corruption charges, has to answer why they have been taking such decisions,” the CPI (M) Politburo member, Mr Sitaram Yechury, said.

The CPI leader, Mr D. Raja, said the apex court's decision would “erode the moral authority of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister as the Leader of Opposition had distanced herself from this appointment”. The Government should be held accountable, he said. Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict, former CVC Mr N. Vittal said it was a “big step” in depoliticising appointments to such key posts. Another former CVC, Mr Pratyush Sinha, said: “We have to be very careful while choosing people for such posts. I am awaiting the detailed order of the Supreme Court.”

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