Naqvi said, "Since the current CAG did not yield to this

government's blackmailing, hence he was charged as one working at the behest of BJP." CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said it was unfortunate that the CAG is being criticised and lamented that there is a decline in standards of political behaviour. "It is very unfortunate. There is a decline in standards of politcal behaviour. This steady decline in the past that we have been seeing is accelerated in Bengal," Yechury said. CPI leader D Raja said there has been a tendency with the government and ruling party to criticise and undermine the CAG ever since it came out with reports alluding to scams. "I understand the anguish or the concern expressed by the CAG because ever since CAG came out with its reports on 2G, CWG and allotment of coal blocks, there has been a tendency with the government and the ruling party to blame CAG and undermine CAG and asking CAG that it is going beyond its mandate. So it is they who are trying to undermine the CAG," Raja said. Criticising those who attacked the CAG, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said, "It is condemnable. The CAG is the accountant of the government who keeps a record of all the nation's wealth. If someone points a finger at CAG, then it is wrong." Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said the CAG's role is defined in the Constitution and all should work according to their defined role. "He (CAG) is an accountant and remains one. Does he want to become Prime Minister," Singh said taking a dig at Rai. Singh also said, "If the judiciary does the work of the Executive, the CAG makes the Police and Civil Society makes laws, then how will the democracy function." Rebutting criticism that the official auditor was exceeding its mandate, Rai had yesterday said that it was treading a "new path in the belief that the final stakeholder is the public at large". He had said the CAG would endeavour to uncover instances of crony capitalism and counselled the government to support enterprises per se and not entrepreneurs. "We may not be able to wipe out corruption, but our endeavour is to uncover instances of crony capitalism. Government should be seen to support enterprise per se and not particular entrepreneurs," Rai, who has come under government criticism for reports on various scams like in telecom and coal, had said.