Constitutional institutions decimated under Modi regime: Sinha

Estranged BJP leader Yashwant Sinha Wednesday lamented at the decimation of Constitutional institutions like the Supreme Court, national investigative agency CBI, RBI, and Election Commission among others under the Modi regime.

He was more critical of the way how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used the occasion of the National War Memorial dedication earlier this week to drive political mileage and sought to credit his party for the memorial.

Given this background Sinha, who has filed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the controversial Rafale jet deal on which the main Opposition Congress has alleged massive corruption to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore and personally blamed Modi, also called upon the civil society to be more vigilant and responsive in taking on the current dispensation.

On the unceremonious way the last CBI chief Alok Verma was shunted out by the Modi government, the former finance minister said, "it is with a degree of sorrow I say that in this whole episode, I don't think the highest court of the land has covered itself with glory".

Addressing an Asia Society event late evening, he also called for more institutionalised mechanism to select the heads of constitutionally mandated national institutions.

"There is no reason why we should not have a high power panel to select the Chief Election Commissioner and other members of the EC instead of leaving it to the executive of the day. Even judicial appointment should not be left entirely to just one institution. We should have an in dependent body to select the judges as well," he said.

"Given the compromises which have crept in, we need to do it sooner than later. Otherwise, we will continue with the present situation and the things are not going to improve," Sinha warned.

Stating that there are various other issues on which the conventions of the Constitution, which have been established over the last seven decades, they have been violated with impunity by this government.

Flaying Modi for the politicizing the National War Memorial at India Gate, he said, "can you imagine the Prime Minister going to inaugurate the War Memorial and uses that occasion for petty politics? This has happened and how many of us are questioning this?"
Flaying Modi for talking domestic politics in foreign soils, he said, "there was a very healthy rule that we will not talk domestic politics on foreign soil. But does anyone cares it now?
Stating that the Supreme Court is compromised of late, he said, "an apex court judge retires one day and the next day says the CJI was under pressure. Now, the highest court of the land is compromised...Still it's business as usual for the civil society. It is very sad."