Jethmalani breaks ranks with BJP over new CBI chief

New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) Firing another salvo at his party, BJP MP Ram Jethmalani, who is also an eminent lawyer, Saturday wrote to BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, questioning his party’s opposition to the appointment of new CBI chief.

“On getting out of bed today, I was astonished to read that the BJP has attacked the prime minister and the Congress party for what the party calls the ‘fast−tracked’ appointment of Mr. Ranjit Sinha as the Director of the CBI,” Jethmalani said in a letter to Gadkari.

“I regret that this criticism is the result of complete ignorance of relevant facts and possibly has been instigated by a most undesirable rival who had to withdraw his petition before the C.A.T. yesterday as a result of this appointment,” Jethmalani said.

Jethmalani in his letter said Sinha’s apponitment has averted a “national calamity”.

“The rival has powerful friends everywhere who do not know what a disaster it would have been if he could manage to become director of CBI in place of Mr. Sinha,” he said.

“I will arrange to have delivered to you a huge bunch of documents showing how the government’s action, for a change, has averted a national calamity,” he said.

BJP top leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj Friday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking him not to appoint a new CBI chief unless the Lokpal Bill is passed.

The Lopkal Bill, amended by a select committee of the Rajya Sabha, has provisions for the revamp the of CBI.

Jethmalani, meanwhile, added: “I have to request you to ensure that these critics from our party refrain from further comments till they know all the facts. I claim to know the facts from my own knowledge.”

IANS 2012-11-24 17:22:16