PM Modi's visit to CJI Chandrachud's residence for Ganpati Puja sparked controversy, with the Opposition questioning judicial independence. The BJP defended the visit as a cultural and religious celebration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence for Ganpati Puja has sparked a row, with the Opposition questioning the transparency in the judiciary system and its code of conduct. Countering the attacks, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained that the visit was restricted to celebrating the Ganpati festivities together and that it was a part of our culture.
In a video, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and other members of the INDI Alliance for politicising the Prime Minister’s visit to the CJI’s house.
His remarks came after Chaturvedi, in an X post, wrote, “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.”
Reprimanding her, Poonawalla said, “The most shocking, despicable, and deplorable comment has been made by Priyanka Chaturvedi, and members of the INDI Alliance when she alludes and imputes motive to Chief Justice of India, Chandrachud Ji. His crime is that Prime Minister Modi visited his residence on the occasion of Ganesh Puja, which everyone does, during the time of Ganesh Chaturthi, we all go to each other’s house and this is a part of our culture and sanskriti.”
“In fact, Uddhav Sena should know this best, but, even something like a puja has been made a crime and politicised by Priyanka Chaturvedi, and what is shocking, is that is imputing motives to the Chief Justice of India, not deciding a particular case as per her time table and schedule. This is nothing short of contempt of court,” he said.
“It is shocking, it is objectionable, it is an attack on the institution of the judiciary, on the Supreme Court, and the Chief Justice of India, and only why, because Prime Minister Modi has visited like he would visit the house of many other people for the Ganesh Puja,” Poonawalla said in the video.
Later, in an X post, Poonawalla shared pictures of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with former Chief Justice of India, KG Balakrishnan, during an Iftaar party.
2009- PM Manmohan Singh’s Iftaar Party was attended by then CJI KG Balakrishnan- Sshhhh – Yeh Secular hai.. judiciary is safe!PM Modi attends Ganesh Puja at current CJI House – oh God Judiciary compromised pic.twitter.com/vhkUdRRVHI
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 12, 2024
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, BJP MP Sambit Patra hit out at the Congress over Rahul Gandhi meeting US Congresswoman, Ilhan Omar, and said, “If the Prime Minister is meeting the CJI, you have a problem, but if you are meeting anti-national people in the US, then there is no problem.”
“I think they have a problem with the Ganpati Puja. When during their tenure, Manmohan Ji organised an Iftar party, then was the CJI not invited? That is also a festival and this Ganpati is also a festival, then why this difference?” he asked.
Milind Deora, now a Rajya Sabha member from the Shiv Sena, said, “It’s unfortunate to see reckless commentary on the Prime Minister’s visit to the Chief Justice of India’s (CJI) residence for Ganapati Aarti. When verdicts favour them, the opposition praises the Supreme Court’s credibility, but when things don’t go their way, they conveniently claim the judiciary is compromised.”
National organising secretary of the BJP, BL Santhosh, also attacked the Opposition and said it is making a hue and cry of the Prime Minister’s visit.
“Civility, cordiality, togetherness, co-travellers in nations journey are all an anathema to these left liberals. Also it was not socialising but a devoted Ganapathi Pooja is very hard to digest. SCBA is not a moral compass. Take deep breath once,” Santhosh wrote in an X post.
रोना शुरू हो गया !!!! Civility , cordiality , togetherness , co travellers in nations journey are all an anathema to these left liberals. Also it was not socialising but a devoted Ganapathi Pooja is very hard to digest. SCBA is not a moral compass. Take deep breath once . https://t.co/xTK3ZKj2xL— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) September 12, 2024
His post came as a response to senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General (ASG), Indira Jaising, who, on the social media platform, said the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) should condemn PM Modi’s visit to the CJI’s residence.
“Chief Justice of India has compromised the separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary,” Jaising’s X post read.
“Lost all confidence in the independence of the CJI. The SCBA must condemn this publicly displayed compromise of Independence of the CJI from the Executive Kapil Sibal,” she added.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, in an X post, said, “Shocking that CJI Chandrachud allowed Modi to visit him at his residence for a private meeting. Sends a very bad signal to the judiciary which is tasked with the responsibility of protecting fundamental right of citizens from the executive & ensuring that the govt acts within bounds of Constitution.” (sic).
“That is why there has to be an arms length separation between the executive & judiciary,” (sic), he added.
Resharing his post, Andhra Pradesh BJP vice-president, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, said, “Secularism doesn’t mean organising Iftari only. Just like others, Hindus are also free to practice their own religion, and both CJI & PM are Hindus. Your hatred towards Hinduism can’t change the fact!”
In a video, Chandrachud and his wife, Kalpana Das, were seen welcoming Modi at their house on Wednesday. The Prime Minister was seen participating in the puja at their residence.
VIDEO | PM Modi (@narendramodi) participates in Ganpati Puja at CJI DY Chandrachud’s residence in Delhi.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/yHhEwmJb6i
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 11, 2024
Later, in an X post, PM Modi said, “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.”
Also reacting to the Prime Minister’s visit, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, on X wrote the Constitution was set on fire.
He also listed several recent cases, wherein the judiciary has ruled against the leaders of the Opposition, and said, “One should understand the chronology to understand all such cases.”
संविधान के घर को आग लगीघरके चिरागसे….१) EVM को क्लीन चीट२) महाराष्ट्र में चलरही संविधान विरोधी सरकार के सुनवाई पर ३ सालसे तारीख पे तारीख३) प. बंगाल बलात्कर मामले मे suemoto हस्तक्षेप लेकीनमहाराष्ट्र रेप कांड का जिकर नहीं.४) दिल्ली मुख्यमंत्री केजरीवाल केbail पर तारीख पे… https://t.co/jzVpQqDQh3— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) September 11, 2024
Later, speaking to the media, Raut said, “Ganpati festivities were organised at many other places, but the Prime Minister chose to visit the Chief Justice’s residence, which has raised doubts and questions over the entire judiciary. We now also doubt if we would be served justice in the cases we are fighting, and those which are being heard by CJI Chandrachud.”
The festival, which started on September 7 will culminate on September 17.
