The Central Bureau of Investigation, once denounced as a 'caged parrot' during UPA tenure, got a morale boost when Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government does not lack the political will to fight corruption and any attempts by the powerful accused to derail investigations will be brought to naught. “The country is with you(CBI),” he told sleuths and top security brass gathered at the diamond jubilee celebration of the CBI in New Delhi.
“The CBI's primary responsibility is to get rid of corruption. We do not lack political will in fighting corruption. Some of the accused are powerful people and they target investigating agencies to distract them,” said Modi. “But, you have to focus on your work. The country is with you,” he said.
Modi struck a chord with the masses, decrying dissenters, when he explained how the CBI has given hope and strength to the common citizen. He spoke of CBI as a “brand of justice’’, built over sixty years with the hard work of sleuths, where people hold protests demanding a CBI inquiry when any case cannot be solved. “India cannot move forward without professional and efficient Institutions like CBI,” he said.
Modi’s address drew a huge applause from the sleuths and security brass alike as it came as a sharp contrast to 2013 - when the CBI celebrated its golden jubilee. A decade ago, the CBI sleuths were warned against external forces trying to influence investigations and the agency finally got a rap in the Supreme Court for acting like a 'caged parrot' speaking his master’s voice. The agency faced more controversy when then CBI director Ranjit Sinha’s role came under scanner in connection with the coal scam probe.
But that was all in the past. Modi said, after 2014, when the BJP government came to power, the aim was to make the country corruption-free. “The ills of dynastic politics, nepotism and middlemen were eating away the system handed down by the Britishers,” he said.
“Corruption is no ordinary crime. It is the root cause of all kinds of crimes and the biggest roadblock in development,” said Modi. “Ten years ago, trillion-dollar scams took place and there was corruption at every phase of governance. This led to policy paralysis, less confidence among investors and general public in the system and weakened the country,” Modi said.
On the other hand, the hallmark of the BJP regime has been tackling corruption, especially fighting economic crimes - strengthening laws against fugitive economic offenders - which has resulted in refilling the country’s coffers with Rs 20,000 crore that was stolen by people who committed fraud.
The reference to economic crimes was a reflection of the prime minister’s attempt to applaud both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate which has transferred assets worth Rs 15,000 crore of fugitive businessmen Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi to state-run banks to realise the losses.
Modi’s remarks also come at a time when the Opposition is joining hands accusing government of misusing central agencies like CBI and ED.
Recognising the challenges faced by sleuths, he asked CBI personnel not to get distracted and assured them that the government will always stand strong in their fight against corruption.
The prime minister was speaking in the presence of Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in PMO, Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor and incumbent CBI director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal.
He asked the CBI to prepare road maps for the next 15 years and the year 2047, when the country completes hundred years of independence from British rule. Modi said institutions like the CBI will play a major role in the Amrit Kal.
Asking sleuths to brainstorm on this during their 'chintan shivir', he said the focus should be on roping in technocrats, tapping the vast talent pool in the country to take CBI to the next level. “The scope of the investigative agency has increased from organised crime to cybercrime. The CBI role is multi-dimensional,” he said. Jaiswal went on to explain why old practices need to make way for constant innovation and technological intervention.
