NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday gave a strong dissent note on the process of selection of the next CBI director during a meeting of the high-powered panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said he does not want to be a part of a "biased exercise".
Dissent Note Details
In his two-page dissent note, he alleged that the government has reduced the selection process to a mere formality and the leader of opposition (LoP) cannot be a rubber stamp. "By denying the Selection Committee crucial information, the government has reduced it to a mere formality. The leader of opposition is not a rubber stamp. I cannot abdicate my constitutional duty by participating in this biased exercise. I, therefore, dissent in the strongest terms," Gandhi said in his dissent note submitted to the prime minister during the meeting.
Panel Composition and Accusations
The PM-led panel which met at the 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence of the prime minister, has Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Gandhi as members. Gandhi also accused the government of misusing the premier investigative agency to target opposition leaders, journalists and critics. "I write to you in your capacity as Chairperson of the Committee constituted to recommend the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to record my dissent with its proceedings. Your government has repeatedly misused the CBI, intended to be India's premier investigative agency, to target political opponents, journalists and critics. It is to prevent such institutional capture that the Leader of Opposition is included in the Selection Committee. Regrettably, you have continued to deny me any meaningful role in the process," he said in his dissent note.
Lack of Information
The LoP said that despite repeated written requests, he has not been provided with the self-appraisal reports or 360-degree reports of the eligible candidates. "Instead, I was expected to examine the appraisal records of sixty-nine candidates for the first time during the Committee meeting. The 360-degree reports were denied to me outright," he said.
Meeting Duration
Sources said since Rahul Gandhi did not participate in the discussion on the names, the meeting was over in five minutes. The remaining 35 minutes were spent on asking questions about Iran and other issues. Rahul said this deliberate denial of information, without legal basis, made a mockery of the selection process and would ensure that only "your pre-decided candidate is selected". Rahul said on X: "I cannot abdicate my constitutional duty by participating in a biased exercise. The Leader of Opposition is not a rubber stamp."
