New Delhi: Coming down heavily on the grand old party in the wake of over 600 lawyers expressing concerns to Chief Justice of India, alleging external pressures on the judiciary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised what he termed as a "vintage Congress culture" of intimidation and coercion.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture. 5 decades ago itself they had called for a "committed judiciary" - they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests but desist from any commitment towards the nation. No wonder 140 crore Indians are rejecting them.”
The lawyers, including prominent figures like senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote a letter to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, highlighting attempts by a "vested interest group" to exert influence on the judiciary, particularly in cases involving political corruption.
Dated March 26, the letter, signed by lawyers from across India, emphasised the detrimental effects of such tactics on the integrity of the courts and the democratic framework.
"These tactics are damaging to our courts and threaten our democratic fabric," the lawyers wrote in the letter.
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Emphasising the crucial role of CJI Chandrachud's leadership in these "tough times", the lawyers urged the apex court to maintain resilience, asserting that it is not the time for maintaining a passive stance.
While the letter refrained from explicitly naming specific individuals, it targeted a group of lawyers, accusing them of defending politicians by day and attempting to sway judges through media channels later.