CBI
can no longer be department of dirty tricks’ The Hindu, April 16, 2014
The Hindu Former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi delivers
the 15th D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Photo: R.V. Moorthy
the 15th D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Photo: R.V. Moorthy
TOPICS
Former
West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on Tuesday said the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), often called the “Department of Dirty Tricks” and seen as
government’s hatchet, was justifiably criticised for lack of sensitivity
towards loss of reputation of senior bureaucrats in the name of needless
enquiries.
West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on Tuesday said the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), often called the “Department of Dirty Tricks” and seen as
government’s hatchet, was justifiably criticised for lack of sensitivity
towards loss of reputation of senior bureaucrats in the name of needless
enquiries.
“It
(CBI) is often called DDT – meaning not dichloro-diphenyl-tricholoroethane, the
colourless, tasteless, odourless insecticide it should be, but the Department
of Dirty Tricks,” said Mr. Gandhi, while delivering the 15th D.P. Kohli
Memorial Lecture titled “Eclipse at Noon: Shadows over India’s Conscience”. The
event marked conclusion of the CBI’s year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations.
(CBI) is often called DDT – meaning not dichloro-diphenyl-tricholoroethane, the
colourless, tasteless, odourless insecticide it should be, but the Department
of Dirty Tricks,” said Mr. Gandhi, while delivering the 15th D.P. Kohli
Memorial Lecture titled “Eclipse at Noon: Shadows over India’s Conscience”. The
event marked conclusion of the CBI’s year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Mr.
Gandhi said: “Talking of complicity (with an unscrupulous Executive), there is
a temptation to bring down reputations of civil servants through unethical
leaks to the media in real time during the course of investigations. This is
despicable. If the Director and his deputies do not themselves get swayed by
sensationalism, they can resist this temptation. They must realise that the
author of today’s faucet leak can be the subject of tomorrow’s shower.”
Gandhi said: “Talking of complicity (with an unscrupulous Executive), there is
a temptation to bring down reputations of civil servants through unethical
leaks to the media in real time during the course of investigations. This is
despicable. If the Director and his deputies do not themselves get swayed by
sensationalism, they can resist this temptation. They must realise that the
author of today’s faucet leak can be the subject of tomorrow’s shower.”
Stating
that this perception needs to be changed, Mr. Gandhi said the agency, being
accountable to the Republic, should establish a partnership with the people.
that this perception needs to be changed, Mr. Gandhi said the agency, being
accountable to the Republic, should establish a partnership with the people.
“At
present, the CBI and the people of India are poles apart. The CBI is clothed in
opacity, then ornamented by secrecy and finally perfumed by mystery [] the
triple wrappings of opacity, secrecy and mystery made it move to be taken out
of the purview of the RTI Act. This is a great pity,” he said, adding that
there were provisions under the Act for some aspects of the probe that needed
protection from disclosure.
present, the CBI and the people of India are poles apart. The CBI is clothed in
opacity, then ornamented by secrecy and finally perfumed by mystery [] the
triple wrappings of opacity, secrecy and mystery made it move to be taken out
of the purview of the RTI Act. This is a great pity,” he said, adding that
there were provisions under the Act for some aspects of the probe that needed
protection from disclosure.
Advocating
autonomy to the CBI, albeit under the Lok Pal, Mr. Gandhi said the CBI Director
should be a phenomenal instrument, not a self-operating robot. “The standard
politician does not and will never like an autonomous CBI.”
autonomy to the CBI, albeit under the Lok Pal, Mr. Gandhi said the CBI Director
should be a phenomenal instrument, not a self-operating robot. “The standard
politician does not and will never like an autonomous CBI.”
Hitting out at “corporate greed”, Mr.
Gandhi said: “Corporate greed has crossed all bounds, as has corporate
tastelessness. We used to talk of black money as a parallel economy and so it
continues to be. But Reliance is a parallel State. I do not know of any country
where one single firm exercises such power so brazenly, over the natural
resources, financial resources, professional resources and, ultimately, over
human resources as the company of the Ambanis. From Ambedkar who spoke of
economic democracy, to Ambani who represents a techno-commercial monopoly of
unprecedented scale, is a far cry indeed.”
Gandhi said: “Corporate greed has crossed all bounds, as has corporate
tastelessness. We used to talk of black money as a parallel economy and so it
continues to be. But Reliance is a parallel State. I do not know of any country
where one single firm exercises such power so brazenly, over the natural
resources, financial resources, professional resources and, ultimately, over
human resources as the company of the Ambanis. From Ambedkar who spoke of
economic democracy, to Ambani who represents a techno-commercial monopoly of
unprecedented scale, is a far cry indeed.”
“Yes,
the mobile telephone is a fantastic asset. But while we make the calls, someone
makes the money. 2G Spectrum is a description that arouses deep pride, and deep
distrust,” said
the mobile telephone is a fantastic asset. But while we make the calls, someone
makes the money. 2G Spectrum is a description that arouses deep pride, and deep
distrust,” said
Mr.
Gandhi, also raising the issue of crimes against women, farmer suicides,
custodial torture and timely judicial interventions.
Gandhi, also raising the issue of crimes against women, farmer suicides,
custodial torture and timely judicial interventions.
The nation needs to wake up to the
warning Former West Bengal Governor Mr.Gopal krishna Gandhi has raised in
following passage in his 15th D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture-about Corporate Greed
that is Denuding our Forests,Polluting our Rivers&Blasting away our
Mountains&creating through these ravages-Concrete Slums-in the name of
Urbanisation that is happening in a most unplanned manner!His is Sage
advice/warning that we would be neglecting at our own peril!
warning Former West Bengal Governor Mr.Gopal krishna Gandhi has raised in
following passage in his 15th D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture-about Corporate Greed
that is Denuding our Forests,Polluting our Rivers&Blasting away our
Mountains&creating through these ravages-Concrete Slums-in the name of
Urbanisation that is happening in a most unplanned manner!His is Sage
advice/warning that we would be neglecting at our own peril!
-Corporate greed has crossed all
bounds,as has corporate tastelessness.We used to talk of black money as a
parallel economy and so it continues to be.But Reliance is a parallel State.I
do not know of any country where one single firm exercises such power so
brazenly,over natural resources, financial resources, professional
resources&ultimately,over human resources as the company of Ambanis. From
Ambedkar who spoke of economic democracy,to Ambani who represents a techno-
bounds,as has corporate tastelessness.We used to talk of black money as a
parallel economy and so it continues to be.But Reliance is a parallel State.I
do not know of any country where one single firm exercises such power so
brazenly,over natural resources, financial resources, professional
resources&ultimately,over human resources as the company of Ambanis. From
Ambedkar who spoke of economic democracy,to Ambani who represents a techno-
commercial monopoly of unprecedented
scale,is a far cry indeed-!
scale,is a far cry indeed-!
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