BJP chief ministers back Narendra Modi, allege misuse of CBI

Chief ministers of BJP-ruled states today joined their Gujarat counterpart and party colleague Narendra Modi to allege that the UPA government was misusing CBI for political gains.

"Yes, the CBI is being misused. What is happening in Gujarat is not good. The agency should be put to good use to crack big cases and not as a political arm of the Union government," Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said in New Delhi.

Expressing similar sentiments, Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said "everyone knows how the agency is being put to use... there is nothing much to explain now."

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the Centre should ensure that government machinery is not used for political purposes.

Narendra Modi alleged that "pick and choose" policy was being followed in CBI probe against Gujarat home minister Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case. He also accused the Centre of using the agency as a political weapon.

"The CBI is being used as a political weapon to settle political scores," he claimed.

The Gujarat chief minister alleged that Congress is trying to take "revenge" after failing in 2007 assembly election in Gujarat in which it "tried to project Sohrabuddin as a hero. He (Sohrabuddin) is the same person from whose house several AK-47 rifles and explosives were recovered."

Chief ministers of various states are in the national capital to attend the meeting of the National Development Council chaired by the prime minister.