Opposition Congress stages dharna in Shillong over CBI 'interference'

The Opposition Congress in Meghalaya on Friday staged a dharna outside the CBI office to demand the reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of his powers and sent on leave.

As part of the party's nationwide protest, Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma led the demonstrators and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to manipulate them the administration of justice in the country.

"It was a disgraceful attempt by Modiji to prevent an investigation into the Rafale scam," Mukul told mediapersons. The Centre had on Wednesday divested Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana of their powers and sent the two warring officials on leave.

The Leader of Opposition also attacked the ruling National People's Party for allegedly attempting to use government officers as "henchmen" by transferring them at their will.

Mukul said, "It (transfer) is something which is more or less comparable to what Modiji is doing to the premier investigating agency like the CBI. They want to use the officers as their henchmen."

The former chief minister was referring to the transfer orders of bureaucrats and police officers soon after taking charge. "It is for the interest of somebody who wanted to do business in the certain block but they are not able to get the compliance of the officer concerned. So the best solution is to throw him out and bring somebody else thinking that he or she will comply with whatever they say," he claimed.

This practice would destroy the state, he said.