Rahul Gandhi: 'CBI chief's removal illegal; PM Modi can hide but can't escape for long'

Rahul Gandhi retreated his allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed CBI Director Alok Verma because the agency was raising questions over the Rafale fighter jet deal.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Photo: INCIndia/Twitter

JAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has insulted the Constitution and people of the country by removing CBI director Alok Verma, Congress President Rahul Gandhi contended on Thursday and reiterated his allegations that he took such a step fearing a CBI probe into the Rafale deal. Rahul Gandhi said forcing Alok Verma to go on indefinite leave was "illegal" and alleged that it was done as Narendra Modi panicked over the possibility of him investigating his "corruption". "A CBI director cannot be removed by the Prime Minister without consulting the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition. His action against the CBI chief was illegal. He has insulted the constitution and the countrymen," Gandhi alleged. The Congress chief charged that the prime minister did so because he got "panicked" as the CBI was to probe the multi-billion "Rafale scam". "Modiji knows if the CBI begins its probe in the Rafale jet deal, he'll get caught. It's illegal for the CBI director to be removed and someone else given the charge of the agency. Moreover, the man, who has been appointed, has cases registered against him. It's because the PM can control him and that no inquiry can be conducted into the Rafale scam," Gandhi said. He (Modi) can hide but cannot escape, he added. "The main reason for this removal of CBI Director at midnight is that the CBI was going to begin an investigation on the role of PM in Rafale scam and the corruption carried out by him," Gandhi alleged. "The CBI Director was not only removed, but his room was also sealed. The incriminating documents that were with him were taken away and that is why the work was done at 2 am. Efforts are also made to suppress evidence," he charged. Earlier in the day, while taking the 'chowkidar' jibe at Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi said one watchman has defamed all watchmen of the country. He said this while reiterating his allegation that Modi removed CBI chief Alok Verma in the middle of the night because he was scared the agency was about to start probing the Rafale fighter jet deal. It was in 2013 when Modi was projected as the prime ministerial candidate by the BJP, he had said that he wants to be the country's 'chowkidar' (watchmen) against corruption and not the head of the government. As the Modi government's term is about to end in the next six month, Gandhi has been targetting the prime minister over his earlier remark. "Two days ago the watchman did something new," the Congress chief said while referring to the major reshuffle in the CBI. "It was not done in the daytime, but when people of the country were sleeping," he said. "I feel sad that one watchman has defamed all watchmen of the country. These watchmen are not at fault as they are working honestly. We are talking about an individual who had asked to be made a 'chowkidar' rather than the prime minister," Gandhi said while addressing an election rally in Rajasthan's Sikar. "The CBI was going to start an inquiry and therefore the prime minister got scared and removed the CBI chief at 1 am in the night," he said in Kota. In an unprecedented shake-up in the CBI's 55-year-history, both its Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana were stripped of their powers and sent on leave in a dramatic overnight action by the government after their infighting worsened. Gandhi had on Wednesday inked the ongoing feud in the CBI with the Rafale Deal and claimed that Verma has been "sacked" to hinder investigation on Rafale. He also accused Modi of interfering in the working of the CBI. He claimed Modi "broke the law" and "bypassed" the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition, who were part of the panel that selected the CBI chief. The Centre, however, dismissed as "rubbish" the allegations that Verma was removed because he wanted to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the government's decision to remove Verma and Asthana was based on the Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) recommendations and it was done to maintain "integrity" of the agency.