BJP's 'Iftar party' counter to opposition amid Modi-Chandrachud photo row
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded to the opposition's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud's residence in New Delhi for Ganesh Puja. The party reminded the Congress of a similar incident in 2009 when former PM Manmohan Singh invited then CJI KG Balakrishnan for an Iftar party. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shared old pictures from the event, questioning why there were no concerns about judicial independence at that time.
Selective criticism
BJP leaders question opposition's selective outrage
Poonawalla pointed out the opposition's inconsistency, stating that they felt the "judiciary was safe" during Singh's Iftar party. However, they now claim that "the judiciary has been compromised" after PM Modi attended Ganesh Puja at CJI Chandrachud's home, he added. BJP MP Sambit Patra also criticized the opposition for politicizing this event and questioned their selective outrage over such interactions between different pillars of democracy.
Twitter Post
Poonawalla shares pictures of the 2009 Iftaar party
2009- PM Manmohan Singh's Iftaar Party was attended by then CJI KG Balakrishnan- Sshhhh - Yeh Secular hai.. judiciary is safe!
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 12, 2024
PM Modi attends Ganesh Puja at current CJI House - oh God Judiciary compromised pic.twitter.com/vhkUdRRVHI
Double standards
Patra defends PM's visit, questions opposition's double standards
Patra defended the PM's visit, arguing that different pillars of democracy should not be enemies and should have courtesies toward each other. He also drew parallels between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent meeting with US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and the Chinese Premiere. "You have an objection to the PM meeting the CJI but no objection when Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar," he said.
Opposition's concerns
Opposition expresses concerns over PM's visit
The controversy over the photo began when opposition leaders, including the Shiv Sena (UBT), raised concerns about the implications of PM Modi's visit on judicial independence. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut expressed fears that this meeting might affect an ongoing Maharashtra case being heard by the CJI. Another party MP, Priyanka Chaturvedi, questioned whether this visit would influence the prioritization of pending cases in light of upcoming elections in Maharashtra.
Minister's response
Union minister Yadav criticizes opposition's negativity
Senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General (ASG), Indira Jaising also expressed her disapproval on X, stating that 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 wrote. Meanwhile, senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that this sends a very bad signal to the judiciary, which is tasked with protecting citizens' fundamental rights from the executive.