If there is a consensus on the understanding of corruption in the country and there is faith in the government’s fight against it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the CBI function would have given a sense of assurance to the country.
But in the current environment, this will increase apprehension in the opposition camps.
This would be taken as an indication that action against the opposition by the central agencies has been given the form of a government policy.
Such a perception is because, in recent years, these agencies have been seen taking action only on opposition leaders.
There is also merit in the belief that as soon as a leader of alleged corrupt image joins the ruling party, the earlier action against him comes to a halt.
The corruption allegations that have been leveled under the Bharatiya Janata Party rule go undetected. For example, consider this case.
According to a recent news, an amount of Rs 1.64 crore was spent from the Tiger Conservation Fund and another Wildlife Fund for the then President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Kaziranga two years ago.
Out of this, about 50 thousand rupees were spent only on tea in one day.
Last November, in response to a petition filed under RTI by animal rights activist Rohit Choudhary, the director of the park had said that over Rs 1.5 crore had been spent on the two-day visit of the President and his team to Kaziranga.
On Sunday, the Assam government ordered an inquiry into the allegations of spending money meant for tiger conservation and other items on the President’s visit.
Wouldn’t it be better if this investigation is handed over to the CBI and the CBI takes steps to fix the accountability of this expenditure with the same zeal as it does in non-BJP ruled states?
Actually, this is just the latest case. Such news often comes, But the eyes of the central agencies do not go on them.
That is why the opposition rising questions on Prime Minister’s statement. This will further raise suspicion on the role and action of central agencies.
