BJP asks PM to hold back new CBI chief's appointment

New Delhi: Voicing "disapproval" of the appointment of new CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, BJP on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying it should be kept in abeyance as a parliamentary committee on Lokpal has unanimously recommended that it should be done by a colleguim.

Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, Leaders of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively, said in a joint written letter to the Prime Minister that the decision appointing Sinha as the next CBI Chief should be kept on hold till the collegium system becomes a law as recommended by Rajya Sabha Select Committee on Lokpal.

The Select Committee report was tabled in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

"This is a matter on record that hours before this recommendation (of the Select Committee) was tabled on the floor of the Rajya Sabha, the Government has chosen to appoint a CBI Director for a period of two years... We must record our strong disappointment and disapproval of this act of the government," the letter said.