New Delhi:
The political warfare over PJ Thomas escalated today with the Home Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj exchanging a new round of accusations. Well, they both charge each other with "tying" things up in "knots."
Mr Thomas was appointed India's Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) in September last year by a three-member committee that consisted of the Prime Minister, P Chidambaram and Sushma Swaraj.
Ms Swaraj placed her opposition to the appointment on record because of a corruption case pending against Mr Thomas from his term as Kerala's Food secretary in the early 90s. He allegedly sanctioned the import of edible oil or Palmolein at astronomical rates. Mr Thomas' selection as CVC has been challenged in the Supreme Court via a Public Interest Litigation (PIl) and so far, the judges haven't seemed impressed with the government's defense.
Ms Swaraj has said that when she met the Prime Minister and Mr Chidambaram in September last year to discuss Mr Thomas' candidacy, the Home Minister "misled" the committee. "It was I who brought this to the committee that there was a case and then he (Chidambaram) said he (P J Thomas) was acquitted." said Ms Swaraj.
Explaining why she fought Mr Thomas' selection as India's top anti-corruption officer, she said, "Even if Thomas was acquitted, was he eligible to the post of the CVC, who should be an outstanding officer with impeccable integrity. The entire debate was based on this."
This morning, Mr Chidambaram replied, "I take exception to the statement by Sushma Swaraj... that I had 'misled the selection committee' and told the committee that Thomas had been 'acquitted'. Firstly, if no sanction for prosecution had been granted since 1999 against P J Thomas (as admitted by her) how could the case have proceeded to trial or ended in an acquittal of Thomas?
Secondly, if the Supreme Court had stayed the trial of the case (as admitted by her), is it not self-evident that the case was pending and nobody could have been either acquitted or convicted?"
Mr Chidambaram then said that by making "thoughtless allegations," Ms Swaraj was "tying herself up in knots."
Not a charge that sat well with the Leader of the Opposition who retorted, "Our thoughtful Home Minister has tied the Government in knots."
Ms Swaraj also tweeted that the Home Minister "didn't let d truth out initially. I investigated d truth. Then he said that Thomas is cleared of all charges. But Thomas is not cleared."
Today's entanglement comes even though the Home Minister and Ms Swaraj have both accepted in recent days that the case against Mr Thomas was discussed verbally and extensively at their meeting.
Meanwhile, Mr Thomas has refused to help the government out by resigning. Mr Thomas cannot be fired - either he has to be impeached by Parliament, or the Supreme Court can declare his appointment invalid.
Mr Thomas was appointed India's Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) in September last year by a three-member committee that consisted of the Prime Minister, P Chidambaram and Sushma Swaraj.
Ms Swaraj placed her opposition to the appointment on record because of a corruption case pending against Mr Thomas from his term as Kerala's Food secretary in the early 90s. He allegedly sanctioned the import of edible oil or Palmolein at astronomical rates. Mr Thomas' selection as CVC has been challenged in the Supreme Court via a Public Interest Litigation (PIl) and so far, the judges haven't seemed impressed with the government's defense.
Ms Swaraj has said that when she met the Prime Minister and Mr Chidambaram in September last year to discuss Mr Thomas' candidacy, the Home Minister "misled" the committee. "It was I who brought this to the committee that there was a case and then he (Chidambaram) said he (P J Thomas) was acquitted." said Ms Swaraj.
Explaining why she fought Mr Thomas' selection as India's top anti-corruption officer, she said, "Even if Thomas was acquitted, was he eligible to the post of the CVC, who should be an outstanding officer with impeccable integrity. The entire debate was based on this."
This morning, Mr Chidambaram replied, "I take exception to the statement by Sushma Swaraj... that I had 'misled the selection committee' and told the committee that Thomas had been 'acquitted'. Firstly, if no sanction for prosecution had been granted since 1999 against P J Thomas (as admitted by her) how could the case have proceeded to trial or ended in an acquittal of Thomas?
Secondly, if the Supreme Court had stayed the trial of the case (as admitted by her), is it not self-evident that the case was pending and nobody could have been either acquitted or convicted?"
Mr Chidambaram then said that by making "thoughtless allegations," Ms Swaraj was "tying herself up in knots."
Not a charge that sat well with the Leader of the Opposition who retorted, "Our thoughtful Home Minister has tied the Government in knots."
Ms Swaraj also tweeted that the Home Minister "didn't let d truth out initially. I investigated d truth. Then he said that Thomas is cleared of all charges. But Thomas is not cleared."
Today's entanglement comes even though the Home Minister and Ms Swaraj have both accepted in recent days that the case against Mr Thomas was discussed verbally and extensively at their meeting.
Meanwhile, Mr Thomas has refused to help the government out by resigning. Mr Thomas cannot be fired - either he has to be impeached by Parliament, or the Supreme Court can declare his appointment invalid.
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