New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday alleged that the appointment of P.J. Thomas as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) appeared to be “a deliberate attempt to cover up the 2G spectrum scandal”.
“The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government should tell whether it is to suppress the 2G spectrum scandal that Thomas has been appointed,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

“It appears to be a deliberate attempt by the UPA to cover up the 2G Spectrum scandal,” he added.

Javadekar recalled that last month the telecom department, then headed by Thomas, had sought legal opinion on the 2G spectrum issue and was told that neither the CVC nor the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had the power to challenge policy decisions taken by the government.

“It is surprising that the law ministry took just three days to give the opinion” on such a controversial issue, Javadekar added.

The BJP boycotted the swearing-in of Thomas at a ceremony Tuesday.

Last Friday, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who is a member of the committee appointing the CVC, recorded her dissent against Thomas at the committee meeting.

However, the other members — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram — insisted on the candidature of Thomas and the appointment was approved. Swaraj later met President Pratibha Patil to convey her party’s misgivings about Thomas’s appointment.