Oppn CMS’ conclave in Delhi likely to dub CBI feud as ‘collapse of Modi govt machinery’

NEW DELHI: At a time when the Centre is grappling with the raging crisis in CBI, the ‘federal front’ has geared up with the “collapse of government machinery” mode.

Reportedly, the two-day meeting of all non-bjp states’ chief ministers is going to take up the present upheaval in CBI as one of the issues of deliberations, along with deliberations on Terms of Reference (TOR) of the 15th Finance Commission. The meeting is scheduled for October 29 and 30 in the national capital and is being hosted by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Keriwal.

Reportedly, he is all set to mobilise the conclave in every corner of the country, with the support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and other non-bjp CMS to hit out at the Modi government. He has always been part of the opposition unity group.

Political observers also see the session as a significant development ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. Many opposition leaders have slammed the government for the removal of CBI director Alok Verma amid an escalating feud between him and his deputy Rakesh Asthana.

Congress has accused the government that it was afraid of CBI chief collecting evidences related to the Rafale link, the Left has called the move illegal. Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described CBI as BBI (BJP Bureau of Investigation).

Besides, the Aam Aadmi Party’s official statement mentioned, “The entire responsibility of the ongoing shameful developments within the CBI lies squarely with the Prime Minister, who is the Cabinet Minister in-charge of the Administrative Ministry for Cbi—the Department of Personnel and Training.”

Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s lieutenant and Delhi’s Finance Minister Manish Sisodia has already sent out a letter to invite the CMS and Finance Ministers of non-bjp states on October 8.

The letter mentioned, “The 15th Finance Commission has been given wideranging Term of Reference (TOR) in addition to the basic duties specified in the Constitution itself. A dialogue has already commenced on the fact that these Tors are in contradiction to the principles of federalism and against the very spirit of the constitutional provisions on the Finance Commission itself.” It further added that these are inimical to the concept of “cooperative federalism.” Chief Ministers and finance ministers of Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi have met for three rounds in turns at Thiruvananthapuram, Amravati earlier and also submitted a joint memorandum to the President.