Politics
BJP Responds to Critics After PM Modi’s Ganpati Puja Visit to CJI’s Residence Sparks Controversy
BJP Responds to Critics After PM Modi’s Ganpati Puja Visit to CJI’s Residence Sparks Controversy
It has sparked off a new controversy with the opposition assailing the transparency of the judiciary and its being in violation of the code of conduct. The charge being led by three members of the INDI Alliance—DMK, NCP, and CPI—the opposition strongly felt that the meeting could be seen as an attempt to compromise the independence of the judiciary. The ruling party, however, termed it no more than celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi—a cultural phenomenon.
The reactions did not go unnoticed, especially those by Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who tweeted on the timing of the CJI’s pending cases in Maharashtra. Chaturvedi hinted at an impending delay in legal decisions associated with the impending election. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla shot back with strong reactions.
The Rajya Sabha MP attacked the remarks made by Chaturvedi, terming it an attack on the integrity of the CJI, and accused Opposition of politicising a simple cultural event.
“Ganesh Puja is observed across India, and Modi’s visit to such a function was exactly in consonance with the cultural ethos and had nothing to do with attempting to influence the judiciary,” he said.
He said Chaturvedi’s statements were contemptuous because the implication was that the CJI’s motive was extraneous.
BL Santhosh, BJP’s national organising secretary, also voiced his discontent over the backlash. He slammed the opposition for politicking such acts of civility and cultural togetherness, saying that it had been politicised by “left liberals.”
Santhosh’s remarks followed the arguments provided by senior advocate Indira Jaising, who said the visit blurred the lines between the judiciary and the executive. Jaising, supported by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, claimed the independence of the judiciary was compromised.
Bhushan said in a Facebook post that the CJI’s decision to host the Prime Minister conveyed a negative message about separation of powers. He added that the necessary distance between the judiciary and the executive kept constitutional values upright.
The video of PM Modi joining the Ganesh Puja at CJI Chandrachud’s house went viral on social platforms, as the prime minister later took to Twitter and wished everyone happiness, prosperity, and health.
At the same time, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that the judiciary was biassed against it, pointing at a spate of recent adverse rulings involving opposition leaders. Raut wondered whether the cases in the future would be fair under CJI Chandrachud and what was the motive behind Modi’s visit.
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However, the BJP leadership has persisted with its stand that this was only on purely religious grounds and doesn’t have any bearing on judicial proceedings.
