CBI chief row: Jethmalani flays BJP

New Delhi: BJP MP Ram Jethmalani on Saturday criticised his party's attack on the government over the appointment of CBI director alleging that the move was "instigated" by the "most undesirable rival".

Jethmalani also had a word of praise for the government action in the appointment of Ranjit Sinha as CBI director and contended that the decision "for a change, has averted national calamity".

"...I was astonished to read that the BJP has attacked the Prime Minister and the Congress party for what the party calls the fast tracked appointment of Ranjit Sinha as the director of the CBI," the veteran parliamentarian said in a letter addressed to BJP president Nitin Gadkari, copies of which were marked to the Prime Minister and the media.

"I regret that this criticism is a result of complete ignorance of relevant facts and has been instigated by a most undesirable rival who had to withdraw his petition before the CAT yesterday as a result of the appointment," Jethmalani said.