A massive political row has erupted over a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud's home for Ganesh Puja. A section of opposition leaders have criticised the meeting, with one saying it sends an "uncomfortable message". The ruling BJP has hit back, saying that attending Ganesh Puja is not a crime and judges and politicians share dais on many occasions.
The Prime Minister visited the Chief Justice's Delhi residence for Ganesh Puja yesterday and received a warm welcome from him and his wife Kalpana Das. "Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji. May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity and wonderful health," the Prime Minister said in a post on X and shared a photograph showing him, the Chief Justice and his wife praying before a Ganesh idol.
Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP and a leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said such meetings raise doubts. He suggested that the Chief Justice of India should recuse himself from a case linked to the tussle between Shiv Sena UBT and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
"Look, it is Ganpati festival. How many people's houses has the Prime Minister visited so far? I don't have the information. Ganesh festival is celebrated in many places in Delhi, but the Prime Minister went to the Chief Justice's house, and the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice together performed the Aarti. Our knowledge of God is such that if the custodians of the Constitution meet political leaders in this manner, then people have doubts," Mr Raut said.
"It seems to me that there is a tradition that in such cases, if there is a party and the judge has or is seen to have any relation with it, then he dissociates himself from that case. So, I feel that Chandrachud sahab should dissociate himself from it," he asserted.
Mr Raut's party colleague Priyanka Chaturvedi, too, put out a post on the Prime Minister's visit to the top judge's home and pointed to the repeated adjournments in the Sena vs Sena case. "Okay. After the festivities are over hopefully CJI will deem fit and be slightly freer to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard of Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra. Oh wait, elections round the corner anyway, it can be adjourned for another day," the MP posted on X.
Manoj Jha, RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP, told news agency PTI that the independence of every institution is not just theoretical, but must be seen. "Ganpati puja is a personal issue, but you are taking a camera. The message it sends is uncomfortable. The Chief Justice of India and the Prime Minister are tall personalities. So what can we say if they agreed to put out these photographs in the public domain."
Earlier, in a post on X, Mr Jha shared the visuals of the Prime Minister's visit with the caption: "That is the state of the republic ....ladies and gentlemen. Jai Hind."
BJP responded sharply to the Opposition's criticism. Union minister Bhupender Yadav said the same people who applaud presence of Prime Ministers at Iftar parties "find their guts twisting and turning" on seeing Prime Minister at the Ganesh Puja at the Chief Justice's home.
"The same people who applaud and encourage presence of Prime Ministers at Iftars find their guts twisting and turning when they see PM Modi perform Ganpati Poojan at CJI DY Chandrachud's residence. The executive and judiciary praying before Gods revered by crores of devotees across India reflects the real strength of Indian secularism. Deal with it," he said in a post on X.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at the Opposition criticism, commenting that a 2009 Iftar party hosted by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was attended by the then Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan.
"Attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime. On many occasions judiciary and politicians share stage. On auspicious functions, marriages, programs - but if PM attends it at house of CJI , Uddhav Sena MP doubts integrity of CJI and Supreme Court. The Congress ecosystem attacks SC like Rahul Gandhi did in past," Mr Poonawalla said, adding that it's a "shameful contempt of court and abusing judiciary".
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