Claiming that State cannot have its sovereignty on corruption, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said those who have a lot to hide are disallowing CBI entry in their domain.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday flayed the Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal Governments for withdrawing general consent to the CBI for raids and investigations in their States saying scams cannot be wiped off by such a decision.

“We have a federal structure and under it the CBI was created initially for employees of the Central Government and then to investigate

very serious cases referred either by states or on court orders. Saradha and Naradha cannot be wiped off,” he told media persons in reply to a query.

Jaitley’s reply came to a pointed query regarding West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh’s recent stand in which the States have announced they won’t let CBI probe cases in their domain as they lost the trust on the apex body due to the recent muddle in the agency.

“There can’t be States’ sovereignty on the issue of corruption, affirmed the Union Minister. How Income Tax officers working in these States would prosecute offenders in these particular states if CBI is not allowed to enter.”

Turning to West Bengal, Jaitley said Sharda-Nardaa (scams) won’t end if CBI is kept away, alleging Trinamool top leadership was involved in these scams.

Besides, Andhra Pradesh is averse to the CBI fearing what would happen after the

probe, added the Finance Minister.

Cornered on the high petro-diesel prices, the finance minister claimed high crude oil prices was a cause of concern globally and whenever crude oil prices come down fuel rates are slashed.

Jaitley tried shifting the buck on Congress claiming the Centre and BJP-ruled States offered price reduction in 2017 and 2018 asking as why the Congress ruled sates failed to extend relief to common people.