Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis posts pictures of Manmohan Singh’s 2009 iftar attended by CJI

MUMBAI: The opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) was engaged in a game of thrust and parry with the ruling Shiv Sena and BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in Ganpati puja at Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud's residence in New Delhi on Wednesday.

While Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said on Thursday that the CJI should recuse himself from the Shiv Sena and NCP MLAs' disqualification case, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP took to X to show pictures of the then prime minister Manmohan Singh hosting an iftar party at his official residence in 2009 that was attended by the then CJI K G Balakrishnan.



In Baramati, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said though she was surprised to see Modi visit Chandrachud's home as something like this was unheard of, she had "full faith" in the judiciary.

Raut said that if a custodian of the Constitution meets politicians, it can create doubt in the minds of people. Raut said the CJI's relations with the party at the helm of affairs at the Centre was openly visible.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora said on X : "When verdicts favour them, the opposition praises the Supreme Court's credibility, but when things don't go their way, they conveniently claim the judiciary is compromised. Casting such baseless aspersions on the highest court sets a dangerous precedent. This reckless attempt to undermine the credibility of the CJI by the opposition is not only irresponsible but also damaging to the institution's integrity."

Raut said his party was not sure it would get justice any more. "Our case of Maharashtra MLAs...the hearing is going on before CJI Chandrachud so we have doubts if we will get justice because the PM is the other party in the case," he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said on X: "After the festivities are over hopefully CJI will deem fit and be slightly freer to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard of Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra. Oh wait, elections round the corner anyway, it can be adjourned for another day."

BJP general secretary B L Santhosh said though left-liberals had started "crying" over the PM attending the event, "it was not socialising but a devoted Ganpati puja".

(With PTI inputs)

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