Opposition Slams New Ordinances to Extend Tenures of CBI, ED Chiefs

New Delhi: The Congress, CPI(M) and TMC on Monday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the ordinances that seek to increase the tenure of ED and CBI directors.

Congress said the move undermines institutions and is meant for creating security for the ruling dispensation and its friends instead of the nation.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said at a press conference that by bringing these ordinances, the BJP government was side-stepping Parliament and violating the Supreme Court's orders only to "misuse" the investigative agencies for protecting themselves and their friends while targeting the opposition.

"The BJP is consistently and intentionally engaged in undermining and sabotaging the institutions and creating security for themselves and the establishment instead of security for the nation. The ordinances are another example in that direction," he told reporters.

"These ordinances take these institutions from discipline and upholding the rule of law to dutifulness to their political masters," he alleged.

The attempt to introduce these ordinances just two weeks ahead of the Parliament session is an attempt at sabotaging, sidestepping, skirting the institution of Parliament, he said.

 "What is the public interest in doing so? There is only self-interest, BJP-interest and the government's interest. The object is to look for self-security and security of the establishment and not of the nation," he alleged.

Singhvi also alleged that the ordinances were in violation of the Supreme Court's directions and meant only to misuse the probe agencies.

"Why have these Ordinances been brought just 15 days before the Parliament session? Isn't this an attempt to bypass Parliament and continue the ignominious trend of Ordinance Raj established by this government since 2014," he asked.

The Winter session of Parliament starts from November 29.

 The polit bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also denounced the promulgation of two ordinances.

“Both the CBI and ED have been functioning as the political arm of the ruling party to advance its agenda. Leaders of opposition parties are regularly targeted. This step is meant to further subvert the autonomy of these agencies and to make the key officers more pliable” the party said in a statement.

CPI(M)  also questioned the timing of the on the eve of the winter session of Parliament , saying that the “BJP’s regular resort to the route of “ordinance raj” is anti-democratic.”

“These ordinances also aim to bypass the Supreme Court direction which had laid down that any extension of tenure has to be for a short period and “only in rare and exceptional circumstances” to facilitate an ongoing investigation. With these ordinances the central government can now give three one-year extensions” the Left party said, demanding that these ordinances be rescinded.

“CPI(M) MPs will oppose the move to convert these ordinances into law in Parliament”, it said.

The Trinamool Congress has moved notices for statutory resolutions in the Rajya Sabha objecting to the ordinances by the government to extend the tenure of CBI and ED chiefs, sources said.

"Two brazen Ordinances extend ED and CBI Director terms from 2 to 5 years #Parliament Winter Session begins two weeks from now. Be rest assured, Opposition parties will do all it takes to stop India from turning into an elected autocracy," tweeted TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien.