Opposition parties termed the decision to “transfer” CBI Director Alok Verma, who later resigned, as a “second coup” on the federal investigating agency. The parties also pointed fingers at the Central Vigilance Commissioner for “willingly allowing” subordination of his office by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Congress said the Narendra Modi government was firing bullets from the shoulders of the CVC in a cowardly fashion and it will completely damage and undermine the autonomy of the CBI. “It is extremely alarming, and deplorable that the CVC, as an institution, willingly allowed itself to be subordinated,” Congress spokesman and MP Abhishek Singhvi said here on Friday.

The opposition party condemned the “tyranny and absolutism” whereby the credibility of institutions is being bulldozed and institutions such as the CVC are allegedly being made to surrender to the government. “We are seeing the beginning of the end of the One Man, One Rule era,” Singhvi added.

The party reiterated Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s stand in the selection committee: “The principle of natural justice demands that the high-powered committee should have given a hearing to Verma. Instead, the Committee removed Verma from the post of CBI Director without even listening to his side of the story,” the party argued.“Why was the CBI Director not heard in the Committee, before a decision to transfer him was taken?” Singhvi asked.

CPI(M) targets govt

The CPI(M) said: “Following the midnight coup of October 23, 2018, on the basis of an unverified and questionable report by the CVC, the Supreme Court found this illegal and reinstated Verma. Through the second coup, he has now been transferred when he is slated to retire soon,” the CPI(M) Polit Bureau said in a statement.

It added that the action by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is clearly an attempt to prevent the exposure of cronyism, corruption and compromises on national security. “Clearly, the Modi government has a lot to hide,” it added.

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