By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati :Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia on Thursday accused the NDA government at the Centre of indulging in systematic demolition of important national institutions, including the CBI. Saikia, in a statement, alleged that the removal of CBI Director Alok Verma was “illegal and unconstitutional” and motivated by the Centre’s “fear of the Rafale deal”. The central government should show respect for democratic norms and reinstate Verma as the CBI chief, since his two-year tenure has not yet run its course, the senior Congress leader added. A late-night order on Tuesday from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet led by the prime minister sent Verma and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who were at loggerheads, on leave. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said on Wednesday that the government’s decision to remove the CBI’s two top officers was based on the Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) recommendations.However Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today staged a ‘dharna’ outside the CBI office in Guwahati to protest the Modi-led BJP government’s decision to send two top CBI chiefs, Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana, on an indefinite leave amid corruption charges. APCC President Ripun Bora, Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi, Senior leader Bobeeta Sharma, Leader of opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia took part in the protest rally among others. “We are protesting against PM Narendra Modi’s disgraceful attempt to prevent an investigation into the Rafale scam by removing the CBI Chief Alok Verma,” said Ripun Bora, who led the protestors. On Thursday, Congress President Rahul Gandhi expressed his views on the decision of sending the CBI chief on an indefinite leave and termed it as ‘illegal’. Gandhi said that forcing the CBI Chief Verma to go on an indefinite leave was ‘illegal’ and alleged that it was done as the government panicked over the possibility of him investigating the Rafale jet deal. Debabrata Saikia on Thursday accused the NDA government of demolishing the CBI and said, “The removal of CBI Director Alok Verma was ‘illegal and unconstitutional’ and motivated by the Centre’s ‘fear of the Rafale deal’. The central government should show respect for democratic norms and reinstate Verma as the CBI chief since his two-year tenure has not yet run its course.”