Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud for Ganesh Puja. The visit, which was shared publicly through a photo of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, and his wife Kalpana Das performing Aarti, has sparked criticism from opposition leaders, who questioned the appropriateness of such a meeting.
PM Modi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), shared the moment, saying, “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.” The post, however, prompted a sharp reaction from opposition figures.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut raised concerns about the optics of the meeting, suggesting that such interactions between the judiciary and political leaders could raise doubts. Raut also suggested that the Chief Justice should recuse himself from ongoing cases related to the Shiv Sena due to this public interaction. “If the custodians of the Constitution meet political leaders in this manner, people have doubts,” said Raut.
Adding to the criticism, Priyanka Chaturvedi, another Shiv Sena leader, pointed to delays in the Sena vs. Sena case and suggested that the meeting could affect the case’s progress. In a post on X, she expressed hope that the Chief Justice would prioritize the pending hearings, stating, “Hopefully, CJI will deem fit to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra.”
RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha also expressed discomfort with the public release of photos from the Ganesh Puja event. Jha emphasized that while religious observances are personal, the public display of such interactions between the Prime Minister and Chief Justice sends “an uncomfortable message.”
The BJP, however, was quick to defend the Prime Minister’s visit. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav criticized the opposition’s reaction, pointing out that the same leaders who welcome Prime Ministers at Iftar events were now questioning a religious celebration at the Chief Justice’s home. Yadav highlighted the event as a reflection of India’s secular fabric, stating, “The executive and judiciary praying before Gods revered by crores of devotees reflects the real strength of Indian secularism.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also responded to the criticism, noting that there have been previous instances where the Chief Justice attended events hosted by political leaders. Poonawalla referenced a 2009 Iftar party hosted by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which was attended by the Chief Justice of India at the time. He dismissed the opposition’s concerns, saying, “Attending Ganesh Puja is no crime. The Congress ecosystem attacks the judiciary, like Rahul Gandhi did in the past.”
The row comes amidst heightened political tensions, with the opposition accusing the BJP of undermining judicial independence, while the ruling party defends the event as a celebration of India’s diverse religious culture.
