Uf Govt Trying To Cover Up Graft Cases: Vajpayee

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday charged the United Front government with attempts to cover up cases of corruption.

Terming as untimely the removal of Joginder Singh as CBI director, he charged that Prime Minister I K Gujral was more inclined to safeguard Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and thereby his own government rather than protecting countrys interests.

Vajpayee said a BJP delegation would soon call on President Shanker Dayal Sharma, to seek his intervention in the Bihar situation. Claiming that the removal of Singh amounted to his virtual sacking, the BJP leader said it raised serious doubts over the role of the central government in pursuing corruption cases, including the fodder scam.

Vajpayee pointed out that Singh was removed despite assurances given to the judiciary that CBI officers investigating the fodder scam would not be transferred.

He said the government had shown reluctance in sanctioning prosecution in cases like Bofors and allotment of petrol pumps and added there were enough reasons to conclude that the centre was trying to cover up corruption cases.

Meanwhile in Chennai, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi yesterday charged that Prime Minister I K Gujral through his handling of Bihar affairs, has not only seriously impaired the independent functioning of the CBI but also subjected the people of that state to immense hardship. He told newsmen here that Gujrals handling of Bihar affairs raised doubts about the credibility of his earlier statements that he would not interfere in the investigation of scams and that he would not protect anybody involved in scams.

He said the shifting of Joginder Singh from CBI directorship came on the same day when the CBI gave an assurance to the Patna High Court that Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav would not be arrested till July 21.

The High Court had taken a view that all accused in the fodder scam should be treated equally by the CBI and had asked the investigating agency why it had not arrested all the accused.

It is really shocking that the CBI filed an affadavit saying that they could not arrest all the accused because of strong protest by a political party.