BJP politicising CVC issue: Congress

Congress today accused BJP of politicising the central vigilance commission (CVC) issue after the main opposition party demanded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's apology for the controversial appointment of PJ Thomas to the post, a decision struck down by the Supreme Court.

"BJP is trying to fish in troubled waters and sensationalising and politicising a legal issue. He (Prime Minister) has already accepted responsibility for a bona fide legal error. The rest is nothing but politicisation of the issue," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu slammed Manmohan Singh on the issue of appointment of Thomas as chief vigilance commissioner, and demanded an apology from him saying he should also explain the circumstances behind the appointment.

"The prime minister is duty bound to tell whether there was an error of judgement or some other pressure from ouside. We hope and expect an apology from him to the Parliament and the countrymen," Naidu said.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, he also demanded that the prime minister explain how and why the appointment was made even as he has owned responsibility and is scheduled to make a statement in Parliament.