Opposition slams PM Modi for CJI house visit, BJP hits back

NEW DELHI: As a row erupted over PM Modi attending Ganpati puja celebrations at CJI D Y Chandrachud's residence, BJP and its ally Shiv Sena hit out at opposition parties on Thursday, calling their reactions "reckless" and saying casting aspersions on the highest court set a dangerous precedent.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra reminded that the then CJI had attended an iftar hosted by then PM Manmohan Singh. "They have no objection to the PM meeting the CJI for iftar but doing Ganpati puja is not acceptable," he said.

Senior lawyer Indira Jaising said the CJI had compromised the separation of power between the executive and the judiciary. "Lost all confidence in independence of CJI. SCBA must condemn this publicly displayed compromise of independence of the CJI from the executive," she tweeted.

"I am surprised that when the PM meets the CJI, you raise an objection. But when Rahul Gandhi meets (US lawmaker) Ilhan Omar, who is with POK, in America, you have no objection," Patra said.

In a video, CJI Chandrachud and his wife Kalpana Das were seen welcoming PM Modi at their house. Opposition figures like Sanjay Raut of Sena UBT and some lawyers of Supreme Court criticised Modi's presence at the puja. "Ganpati Utsav is being celebrated and people visit each other's houses. I don't have information whether the PM has visited anyone's house," Raut said. Ganpati Utsav was being celebrated at several locations in Delhi and at Maharashtra Sadan, he added.

Patra, however, said the PM and the CJI's courtesy meeting reflected the "beauty of democracy" and it made India better than other countries. "What do they want? Can't different pillars of democracy meet, converge, shouldn't they be friends? Should they be enemies? Should they not be talking to each other? Shouldn't they extend a handshake? Shouldn't they have courtesies extended towards each other?" he asked.

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".

"Started crying! Civility, cordiality, togetherness, co-travellers in nation's journey are all anathema to these Left liberals... SCBA is not a moral compass. Take a deep breath once," he said.

Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora said it was unfortunate to see "reckless commentary" on Modi's visit to the CJI's residence. "When verdicts favour them, the opposition praises Supreme Court's credibility, but when things don't go their way, they conveniently claim the judiciary is compromised," he said.

RJD MP Manoj Jha said the PM attending Ganpati puja at the CJI's residence sent out a message that "makes one uncomfortable", adding independence of institutions "should be visible".

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