New Delhi. Amid the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the Ganpati Puja ceremony at the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have targeted opposition parties, calling their reactions ‘careless’ and said that making ‘baseless allegations’ on the apex court sets a dangerous precedent. Prime Minister Modi participated in the Ganpati Puja at the CJI’s residence here on Wednesday. In a video related to this ceremony, Chandrachud and his wife Kalpana Das are seen welcoming Modi at their home.
Many opposition leaders and some Supreme Court lawyers have reacted sharply to Modi’s participation in the puja at the CJI’s residence. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said, “Ganpati festival is being celebrated and people visit each other’s houses… I am not aware whether the Prime Minister has visited anyone’s house or not.” He said that Ganpati festival is being celebrated at many places in Delhi and also at Maharashtra Sadan.
He said, “However, the Prime Minister visited the residence of the Chief Justice. They performed aarti together. We feel that if the custodians of the Constitution meet political leaders, people will be suspicious.” Senior lawyer Indira Jaisingh said in a post on ‘X’ that the Chief Justice of India has compromised the principle of separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary.
“All faith in the independence of the Chief Justice has been lost,” he said. “The SCBA (Supreme Court Bar Association) must publicly condemn the compromise of the CJI’s independence from the executive,” he added. Countering this, BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh said though left-liberals have started crying foul over the prime minister attending the event at the CJI’s residence, “it was not mingling (with people) but pure Ganpati puja”.
Reacting to Jaising’s comments, Santosh said in a post on ‘X’, “The crying has begun!!!! Civilisation, harmony, solidarity, fellow travellers in the nation’s journey… all are anathema to these leftist liberals. Moreover, this was no mingling but pure Ganpati puja, which is very difficult to digest. SCBA is no moral compass.” In another post, Santosh wrote, “Yesterday’s one puja and aarti has spoilt the sleep, morning walk and tea-breakfast of many across the country!!!!” Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora also hit out at critics and said it was unfortunate to see “careless comments” on PM Modi’s visit to the Chief Justice’s residence for Ganpati aarti.
He alleged in a post on ‘X’, “When the decisions are in their favour the opposition praises the credibility of the Supreme Court but when things do not go their way they conveniently claim that the judiciary has been compromised.” Deora said, “This reckless attempt by the opposition to undermine the credibility of the CJI is not only irresponsible but also damages the integrity of the institution. India’s politics is taking an ugly turn.” He said the era of arbitrary judicial appointments is gone and the current CJI has served in his post with utmost integrity.
Deora said, “Those who want to tarnish his legacy and credibility are exhibiting poor judgment and working against the best interests of the nation.” In a post on ‘X’, BJP’s information and technology department chief Amit Malviya said that the entire Congress and Communist ecosystem is in turmoil after the Prime Minister attended the Ganpati puja at Chandrachud’s residence.
He said, “These same sceptics considered it a symbol of secularism when Dr Manmohan Singh hosted Iftar parties and the then CJI attended them.” Malviya said, “Their problem is not just the courtesy and cordiality between the Prime Minister and the CJI, but Ganesh Chaturthi. Congress and communists have always had a problem with Hindu festivals and now they have a problem with Maharashtra, which celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with great enthusiasm.”
People in top positions should not publicise private functions: Sibal
Amid the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in Ganpati Puja at Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s residence, Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal on Thursday said that people in the highest positions should not publicise any private event. Sibal said that no one should put themselves in a situation where people start blabbering about an institution.
Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Sibal also said that the Prime Minister should never have shown interest in attending such a private event and those he consulted should have told him that it could send the wrong message. Modi had participated in Ganpati Puja at Chief Justice Chandrachud’s residence in Delhi on Wednesday.
Sharing a photo of him attending the puja, Modi wrote on ‘X’, “Attended Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI Justice DY Chandrachud ji. May Lord Ganesha bless us all with happiness, prosperity and wonderful health.” Reacting to this, Sibal said, “I saw something on social media and to be honest, I was shocked. I have been in the Supreme Court and in this institution for more than 50 years. I have seen great judges, both former and present, and we are emotional about this institution.”
He said in a press conference here, “I have great respect for the current Chief Justice. I can say without any hesitation that he is a person of great personal integrity. When I saw this viral clip, I was really shocked.” Sibal said that he has some issues in principle and no public official, especially those in the highest position like the President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India, should publicize a personal event.
The former Congress leader said, “I am sure that the CJI may not have known that it is being publicised, it is sad. Secondly, the Prime Minister of India should never have shown interest in going to such a private event, because the Prime Minister and the people he would have consulted should have told him that this could send a wrong signal.” He said that the issue is what impression such a clip would have left on people’s minds. Sibal said that if there is any gossip about this, then it is not right for the institution.
He said, “My religion and my way of expression in terms of my beliefs is a private matter and it is not public. Therefore there should be no videography or photographing.” Earlier, senior advocate Indira Jaisingh had said in a post that the Chief Justice has compromised with the separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary.
Goel slams opposition for comments on Modi attending puja at CJI’s residence
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday criticized opposition parties for commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the Ganpati Puja ceremony at the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud. He said that the public will not forgive those who do such petty politics. He said, “I strongly condemn the opposition leaders for the shameful attack on Hindu sentiments and our festivals, which we celebrate with pride.”
Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday participated in Ganpati Puja at the CJI’s residence here. In a video, Chandrachud and his wife Kalpana Das were seen welcoming Modi at their home. Goyal told reporters here, “The public will not forgive those who do such petty politics.” Goyal said that the short-sightedness of the opposition is plagued by the politics of appeasement and their hatred towards Hindus has once again come to the fore.