The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has rejected the BJP demand to hold in abeyance the appointment of new CBI Director Ranjit Sinha.

In a letter to BJP leader Arun Jaitley, the Prime Minister said the premier investigating agency can not be kept without a head pending the enactment of the Lokpal and the Lokayukta Bill and the question of keeping the new appointment in abeyance does not arise.

The tenure of the present incumbent to the post of CBI Director is ending on the 30th of this month.

The Bill was referred to a Select Committee which has tabled its report in the Rajya Sabha yesterday. Dr. Singh said many changes have been suggested by the Committee which are required to be considered by the Government for introducing official amendments.

The Prime Minister said the insinuation that the appointment was made to preempt the procedure recommended by the Select Committee is wholly unwarranted and devoid of any merit.

He also refuted the suggestion that the appointments to this post in the past by the UPA Government were motivated by
collateral considerations.

The Prime Minister said, the government has made the appointment in accordance with the CVC act and the procedure followed in the matter.

The Prime Minister has sent the communiction in reply to the letter signed by BJP leaders, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley received by him yesterday.