BJP asks Prez to stop govt from filling top posts

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s attempts to push through various appointments during the Lok Sabha elections is drawing criticism from the Opposition.

The BJP has sought President Pranab Mukherjee’s intervention to stop the Defence Ministry from appointing a new Army chief, besides objecting the move to fill the post of special director, CBI.

The Centre had to give up on Lokpal appointments owing to the public outcry. The UPA has been accused of trying to flood government institutions with “their own people”.

As the Defence Ministry sets into motion the process to appoint the next Army chief, the BJP raised objections by arguing that it would be inappropriate for an outgoing government to decide on the next Army chief.

On Friday, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy wrote to Mukherjee spelling out his objections. Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, the senior-most officer and the current vice-chief, is tipped to be the next Army chief once Gen Bikram Singh retires on July 31.

“The timing of this proposed announcement will, inter alia, ensure that the Army chief’s office is politicised and the armed forces demoralised,” Swamy wrote in the letter, excerpts of which were shared with a news agency. Swamy questioned the rationale behi­nd appointing the Army chief three months in advance when the government waited for 50 days to decide on the Navy chief after Admiral D K Joshi resigned.