Prime Minister Narendra Modi demolishing national institutions: Opposition Leader Debabrata Saikia

GUWAHATI: The Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia today said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP top brass have indulged in systematic demolition of important national institutions, the latest instance of which is the farcical developments involving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

As per a communique, Saikia asserted that the illegal and un-Constitutional removal of the CBI Director, Alok Verma was motivated by the Prime Minister’s fear of the Rafale deal being properly probed and also his desire to protect his alleged protégée, Rakesh Asthana, the Special Director of the CBI who is under the scanner on corruption charges. After targeting various institutions, including the Judiciary and the banking sector, the Prime Minister and his coterie have now set a new benchmark for dictatorial behaviour by unilaterally removing the CBI Director even though the rules stipulate that such a step can only be taken by the Prime Minister with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Leader of the Opposition. Saikia said that Modi should show respect for democratic norms even at this late stage and reinstate Alok Verma as the CBI Director since the latter’s two-year tenure has not yet run its course, the communiqué further added.