New Delhi, Mar 3: BJP today said the quashing of the appointment of P J Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner by the Supreme Court was a "slap" on the face of UPA government which could have avoided the predicament had it heeded to the advice of the leader of the opposition who opposed it.
The Supreme Court's decision on the CVC appointment issue was a "slap" on the face of the government, BJP President Nitin Gadkari told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on corruption here.
He said "the government could have saved itself from the embarrassment had it taken the advice of the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj before his appointment. He was first appointed with political intention... even though he had charges against him".
Earlier, speaking at the seminar 'Corruption is cancerous to society' in Delhi University campus, Gadkari said the government would not have been in such a position today had they agreed with the dissent note given by Sushma Swaraj at the time of choosing Thomas as the CVC.
"Sushmaji had raised the issue before the Prime Minister but her words were not heeded to", Gadkari said.
He said the SC verdict has "raised the credibility of the judiciary and democracy".
Gadkari said corruption had become "part and parcel" of the system but this could be changed if people stop electing corrupt politicians and bring to power individuals with good values.
"It is true that corruption has become part and parcel of our system. This has to be removed. This can change only if people stop electing those who are corrupt to positions of power and choose individuals with good values and social thought", Gadkari said.
He said how a person becomes corrupt has a lot to do with values taught at home, school and college and most of the time it is an individual decision to be dubious or clear in one's activities in life.
"One advice I give to many who approach me and say they want to enter politics is that first they should perform their other duties like making a career, making money, taking care of family and then foray into public life because then a person is not there to make money", the BJP president said.
He said there was a need to strengthen the Lokayuktas. PTI
