New Delhi, Nov 2: The Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai has reportedly told a group of MPs and senior officials on the sidelines of the last meeting of Public Accounts Committee that if the ruling UPA descires to impeach him, it can bring a motion in Parliament, Delhi tabloid Mail Today reported on Tuesday.
Vinod Rai has been at the received end of several stinging remarks by Congress leaders and spokespersons in recent months over the CAG's damning reports on 2G scam and CWG scam.
Leaders like Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal, Sanjay Nirupam and Manish Tewary have been alleging that the office of CAG is being misused by vested interests to malign the government's image.
Under the Constitution, the CAG, a constitutuional authority, can be removed only by an impeachment resolution passed in both Houses of Parliament.
Sparks flew at the last meeting of Public Accounts Committee when the Congress members disallowed R P Singh, former director general of audit (post and telecommunications), who reportedly had differences with his seniors over the 2G report, to depose before the panel on Monday, the report said.
Singh could not even appear before the PAC as Congress members, led by MP Sanjay Nirupam, argued that he may not be able to tell his version to the panel in the presence of the CAG Vinod Rai and other senior CAG officials.
At this point, Vinod Rai told the PAC meeting that he will abide by the PAC's decision and was ready to go out of the meeting if the PAC wanted him to. But Opposition members argued that, according to the rules, the CAG is a “friend, philosopher and guide” of the PAC and he should be available in the meetings of the panel.
The report said, Vinod Rai later told a section of MPs that this wasn't the way to point out mistakes in actions of the office of the CAG. He reportedly suggested that those who criticise him should ideally take constitutional measures to punish him, and that included impeachment.
Vinod Rai also reportedly said that the “war” against the CAG is often waged through the media and the CAG may not be able to counter it as the office is constitutionally bound by its oath of office and secrecy.
Rai is learnt to have said that if the issue was raised through an impeachment motion in Parliament, he would be able to present his case in a better manner before the nation.
Several Opposition MPs supported this idea and challenged the Congress members to bring up an impeachment motion, for which a minimum of 50 MPs must sign the notice for the motion.
Experts point out that in the 1960s, when former defence minister V K Krishna Menon raised objections against a CAG report on the army jeep scam in Parliament, the then Speaker of Lok Sabha ruled that the CAG cannot be criticised in Parliament and Krishna Menon can move an impeachment motion if he wants to criticise the office.
