New Delhi: Congress party has reacted strongly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment that to “browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture”. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge issued a statement in which he said “it is not proper form for the PM to comment on our judiciary.” The Congress veteran also asked four pointed questions and accused the Prime Minister of being “personally responsible” for “usurping” the powers of institutions and “weakening our country”.
Reacting to PM’s remark, Kharge posted on X, “As you consider India’s institutions to be your personal property, I have some questions for you”. What drew the Congress chief’s rejoinder was a blistering post by PM Modi earlier today after 600 lawyers wrote to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, alleging attempts by “a vested interest group” to undermine the judiciary’s integrity and defame courts.
“To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture. Five decades ago, they itself had called for a ‘committed judiciary’ – they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests, but desist from any commitment towards the nation,” PM Modi said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The first question pertained to an unprecedented press conference in January 2018 by four judges of the Supreme Court, who went public with their complaints against the then Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra. An independent judiciary is essential for a functioning democracy, the judges had said.
“Why was one of the judges nominated by your Govt to the Rajya Sabha?” Kharge asked next, refering to the unprecedented Upper House nomination of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi in 2020. The recommendation by then President of India Ram Nath Kovind is unprecedented – till then, no Chief Justice had been nominated to the Upper House by the head of the state.
“Why has your party fielded a former high court judge from West Bengal for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections?” Kharge has also asked, referring to the former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijeet Gangopadhyay, whose move into electoral politics has raised eyebrows.
Kharge also questioned why the government brought the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) that was struck down by the Supreme Court. The Congress, though, had supported the constitutional amendment bill in parliament.
The letter by over 600 lawyers, including veteran advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, alleged that a vested interest group is putting pressure on the judiciary, especially in cases of corruption involving political leaders.
The letter accused that the tactics employed by the interest group involve selective criticism or praise of court decisions based on their political agenda, described as a “My way or the highway” approach.
Concerns have also been raised about Political flip-flopping, where politicians alternate between accusing individuals of corruption and defending them in court.
The letter further highlighted, the use of underhand tactics and dissemination of false information to influence judicial appointments and outcomes. The lawyers note the strategic timing of these tactics around election periods, drawing parallels to similar activities in 2018-2019.
Senior members of the bar have requested the Supreme Court to take protective measures against these attacks to maintain the judiciary’s integrity. The letter calls for a united stand in support of the judiciary to ensure it remains a strong pillar of democracy, urging decisive leadership in addressing these challenges.