Opposition vs BJP After PM Modi Attends Ganpati Celebrations At CJI Chandrachud's House

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut expressed doubt about the Supreme Court's impartiality in the Shiv Sena faction dispute after PM Modi visited CJI Chandrachud's residence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in Ganesh pujan at CJI DY Chandrachud's residence.

Source : PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut expressed objection over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The Rajya Sabha MP said that he doubts his party will get justice as the matter over which faction of the Shiv Sena is the real one is in the Supreme Court. 

On Wednesday, PM Modi visited CJI Chandrachud's residence to attend Ganesh Puja on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Modi was seen offering prayers to the deity along with the CJI and his wife Kalpana Das. 

Reacting to the development, Raut said on Thursday that custodians of the Constitution meeting politicians could create doubts in the minds of people. 

A three-judge bench headed by CJI Chandrachud and comprising justices J. B. Pardiwala and Manoh Misra is hearing the case after Uddhav Thackeray faction filed a plea in the Supreme Court. The plea challenged  Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's order declaring the Shiv Sena bloc led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the "real political party" after its split in June 2022.

"If a custodian of the Constitution meets politicians, it can create doubt in the minds of people. In our case of Maharashtra...the hearing is going on before CJI Chandrachud so we have doubts if we will get justice because the PM is the other party in the case. In our case, the other party is the central govt...Chief Justice should distance himself from this case because his relation with the other party in the case is openly visible," Raut said. 

"Will CJI Chandrachud be able to give us justice in such a situation," he asked. 

BJP Hits Back, Shares Pic Of Former CJI Attending Manmohan Singh's Iftar Party 

Responding to Raut, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP, senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra said that the meeting won't affect any Supreme Court judgment. 

" I would not like to say much but those who are involved in cases will object a little...They know that this will not affect any Supreme Court judgement, this was a social-religious function," Kumar said. 

"PM went there and offered prayers and then he returned. If there had to be some different kind of meeting, it would have been done confidentially. They would have talked on FaceTime," he said. 

The BJP leader also took a dig at Raut saying he did not have any objection when Rahul Gandhi met "anti-India" elements abroad, in a veiled reference to Gandhi's meeting with US Senator Ilhan Omar. 

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also hit back at the opposition leaders for their remarks on PM's visit to CJI's residence. He shared an image from former PM Manmohan Singh's Iftar party back in 2009 which was attended by then CJI KG Balakrishnan, and wrote: "Sshhhh - Yeh Secular hai.. judiciary is safe! PM Modi attends Ganesh Puja at current CJI House - oh God Judiciary compromised."

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