National desk
12 September
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at a Ganpati Puja ceremony at the residence of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has sparked a political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies accusing the opposition of making reckless and unfounded assumptions. The BJP warned that such reactions set a dangerous precedent by questioning the integrity of the judiciary.
The controversy began after a video surfaced showing Chief Justice Chandrachud and his wife welcoming PM Modi to their home for the Ganpati Puja, held on Wednesday. The Prime Minister’s participation in the religious ceremony drew criticism from several opposition leaders and Supreme Court lawyers, who expressed concerns about the implications of such a visit.
Senior BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, criticized those politicizing the Prime Minister’s attendance at the ceremony. He pointed out that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted Iftar parties where the Chief Justice also participated. Patra questioned the double standards of those who criticize one religious event while accepting another. He labeled the critics as “idiots” and “supposedly seculars,” arguing that such objections are baseless in a mature democracy like India.
In contrast, senior advocate Indira Jaisingh expressed concerns that the Chief Justice’s actions blur the lines of the separation of powers. Activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan went further, claiming that the visit violated the code of conduct for judges during elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also weighed in, suggesting that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice could raise suspicions among the public. He called for Chief Justice Chandrachud to recuse himself from cases involving the disqualification of Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs, to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.