A political storm has erupted regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence for Ganesh Puja. In response to the criticism from the Opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has countered by recalling a similar instance from 2009 when then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted an Iftar party for the then-CJI KG Balakrishnan.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla released historical photos showing Singh and Balakrishnan together at the Iftar event, questioning why there was no similar outrage at that time. He suggested that the current criticism of Modi’s visit implies an inconsistency in the Opposition’s stance on the independence of the judiciary.
BJP MP Sambit Patra criticized the Opposition for politicizing the Ganesh Puja event and questioned if former PM Singh’s attendance at Iftar parties was viewed differently. He argued that various democratic institutions should interact and that there should be no animosity between them.
Patra also pointed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent photo with US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar as a contrast to the criticism of Modi’s visit, questioning why similar scrutiny was not applied to Gandhi’s meetings with foreign dignitaries.
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav defended the PM’s visit, emphasizing that Ganpati represents auspicious beginnings and symbolized a positive aspect of democratic and cultural unity. He urged critics to refrain from disparaging cultural celebrations that reflect India’s rich traditions.
Opposition Raises Concerns
The Opposition, particularly from the Shiv Sena (UBT), has expressed concerns about the potential impact of Modi’s visit on the judiciary’s impartiality. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned whether the visit might influence the ongoing Maharashtra case overseen by CJI Chandrachud.
Raut and fellow MP Priyanka Chaturvedi have suggested that the timing of the visit, with elections approaching in Maharashtra, could affect the case’s handling and delay justice.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, acknowledged that while there was nothing inappropriate about the CJI inviting Modi, the publicizing of the event created unnecessary speculation. He suggested that the PM’s decision to make the private event public was ill-timed given the upcoming elections in Maharashtra.
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