Cabinet decision legally suspect, liable for challenge:Jaitley

Ahmedabad, 26 December 2013

The Congress-led UPA government’s cabinet today decided to set up Commission of Inquiry into Gujarat govt’s alleged surveillance of a young woman. There’s no doubt that this is one more ‘Stop Modi’ plank. Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha and BJP MP Arun Jaitley has termed this action as politically motivated and expressed hope that other Chief Ministers will also join in the protest against this action. He pointed out that the Gujarat government has already set up a commission of inquiry on this issue.

Following is Shri Jaitley’s Facebook note in full text in this regard:

The Central Government has announced the setting up a Commission of Inquiry to probe the allegations of alleged snooping by the Gujarat Government. This action is politically motivated. The Congress Party has not learnt from the drubbing it got in the elections recently. It has continued with its strategy of fighting Narendra Modi not politically but through investigative agencies and now through a Commission of Inquiry.

The Gujarat Government has already set up a Commission of Inquiry to inquire into this issue. The setting up of a parallel Commission by the Central Government ostensibly on the pretext of this issue covering more than one State is without any basis. This action legally is a suspect and liable for challenge. I am sure it will be legally challenged in courts. The setting up of this Commission violates the federal structure of the Constitution. It is an affront to the States.

I hope other Chief Ministers also join in the protest against this action.