Responding to criticism that reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) are disruptive to the economy, former CAG Vinod Rai said that those who make such statements are simply seeking alibis to non-performance. Speaking at a BG Deshmukh memorial lecture organized by the Public Concern for Governance Trust, about the need for good governance, Rai said that the CAG reports will continue to be as stringent and objective as before. "I don't see any threat at all to CAG's work. In terms of independence, there is no threat. You only need to empower institutions,” Rai said at the lecture held at Indian Merchants Chamber, Churchgate. However, he said that government institutions such as the Central Vigilance Commission or CAG are not being allowed to function. "Today, it is the institutions such as the that are not being allowed to function. Attempts are made to ensure that they don't bring out things in the public domain. Whenever we bring out anything that is uncomfortable, the attempt is to shoot the messenger than address the malaise," Rai said. He added that after the 2009 election, CAG had attempted to look into the meteoric rise in the assets of contesting candidates as declared to the Election Commission. "I spoke to Chief Election Commissioner Dr. SY Quraishi to get declaration of assets of some candidates in 2004 and the same candidates in 2009. The different was 300 times more, not 300 percent, but 300 times," Rai said. However, he said he was told that scrutinizing the massive rise in the assets of candidates does not fall under CAG's ambit. "We could do nothing about it, but why can't the income tax authorities question them?" Rai said. He added that it is time for the educated urban middle class to step in and to ensure that institutions are allowed to function.
