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After supporting Ram Jethmalani and Yashwant Sinha's demand of resignation by Nitin Gadkari as the Bharatiya Janata Party chief, party leader Shatrughan Sinha on Sunday sided with Jethmalani again on appointment of Ranjit Sinha as new Central Bureau of Investigation director, saying there was no ground to initiate disciplinary action against the lawyer-turned politician.
"Ranjit Sinha's appointment as new CBI director has been done in a fair and transparent manner...any controversy over the issue is baseless," Shatrughan Sinha, BJP Lok Sabha member of Parliament from Patna Sahib, told PTI.
"The new CBI director has been chosen on the basis of recommendations of a committee appointed by the Supreme Court and the Central Vigilance committee has put its seal of approval on it," Sinha said.
Reminded that party leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley have objected to Sinha's appointment pending passage of a Lokpal bill, the actor-turned politician said he was not aware, but added that in his personal opinion 'an important institution such as the CBI cannot be kept headless till passage of Lokpal bill whose fate hangs in balance'.
"Moreover, we have already seen the fate of Lokpal in Rajya Sabha when RJD members tore the bill to prevent its approval", he said. 'Na Nau Man Tel Hoga, Na Radha Nachegi' (how long we can wait!), he said.
He repeated that Ranjit Sinha, a 1974 batch Indian Police Service officer of Bihar cadre, is senior, competent and well qualified to be appointed on a responsible post of CBI director.
On indication that the BJP may take disciplinary action against Jethmalani over his outburst against the party, Shatrughan, who served as Union minister in the National Democratic Alliance government led by A B Vajpayee, said there was no ground for such an action.
"Though it is the prerogative of the party, I see no reason for initiating disciplinary action for speaking the truth," he said.
Reminded that his frank opinions on Gadkari and Sinha might invite the party's wrath, Shatrughan, who is a star campaigner for the party, said, "I am mature and have grown senior in the party and has never violated 'maryada' (limit). I have always spoken the truth for the betterment of the party and the nation."
On the choice of the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for 2014 general elections, he said, "There are several leaders such as L K Advani, Yashwant Sinha, Ram Jethmalani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi, but Advaniji is the best for the post."
"Advaniji like Vajpayeeji stands as a silver lining in the dark cloud...considering his vast experience, vision and good image he will be the best candidate for PM's post," Shatrughan said.
He said even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is also competent for the PM's post. "But, the choice will be determined on the basis of numbers."
Shatrughan also said that in his view the party would gain if its leader is announced before 2014 general elections.