The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s X post implying that the Congress had formed a pressure group to influence the judiciary, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge penned a strongly-worded rebuttal. Kharge criticized the Prime Minister for commenting on the judiciary, asserting that India’s institutions belong to the people and not to any individual.
The controversy arose after a letter signed by 600 lawyers, including senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, expressed concern about an unnamed interest group exerting political and professional pressure to undermine the judiciary’s integrity. The letter accused the group of employing tactics to influence judicial outcomes, particularly in cases involving political figures.
In his X post, PM Modi responded to the allegations, stating, “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 Prime Minister’s statement implied that the Congress was behind the alleged pressure group, despite the letter not naming any specific party.
Kharge, in his rebuttal, questioned the Prime Minister’s awareness of proper form when commenting on the judiciary. He accused PM Modi of considering India’s institutions as his personal property and posed four pointed questions:
1. Why did 4 senior-most Supreme Court judges hold an unprecedented press conference and warn against “destruction of Democracy” by your regime?
2. Why was one of the judges nominated by your Govt to the Rajya Sabha?
3. Why has your party fielded a former high court judge from West Bengal for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections?
4. Why did you bring the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) that was struck down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court?
Kharge’s first question referred to the 2018 press conference by four senior Supreme Court judges who went public with complaints against then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. The judges had expressed concerns about the administration of the Supreme Court and the importance of an independent judiciary for a functioning democracy. One of the four judges, Ranjan Gogoi, later became the BJP’s nominee as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
The Congress President emphasized that India’s institutions are the property of the people and accused the Prime Minister of usurping their powers and weakening the country. He asserted that the Congress party had helped build and nurture these institutions, with thousands of its workers and leaders sacrificing their lives for them.
In an earlier post, Kharge also accused the Prime Minister of bullying institutions into submission and manipulating democracy. He urged PM Modi to stop blaming the Congress for his own shortcomings.
The exchange between the Prime Minister and the Congress President highlights the ongoing tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, particularly concerning the role and independence of the judiciary. As the nation gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the debate over institutional integrity and the preservation of democratic values is likely to intensify.
