Bokaro: The proposal surfaced in the Hemant Soren cabinet, suggesting that state government officials cannot be directly interrogated by central agencies, has sparked off controversy. This move has ignited a political firestorm, with the opposition vehemently criticising it as a ‘shield for the corrupt’.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a strong stance, asserting that the government’s actions are safeguarding those involved in corruption.
Leader of the Opposition (BJP), Amar Kumar Bauri, expressed his concerns during discussions with mediapersons in Bokaro on Wednesday. He said that the government’s attempt to provide security cover for officials implies an effort to shield corrupt individuals.
Bauri said “no corrupt person can escape the scrutiny and accountability enforced by the Modi-led government. There is no Congress government in the country, it is Modi rule. There should be a fear of law among the officials.”
The state government has formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide government officials when responding to summons or notices from investigating agencies outside the state. The cabinet has granted approval for this SOP, designating the Cabinet Secretariat and Vigilance Department as nodal authorities.
Therefore, if an external agency issues a notice to any officer, the officer must inform the monitoring body through their controlling officer. The officer will allow him to give documents etc. only after taking legal advice.
