After a political row erupted over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence to particpate in Ganpati Puja during the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the BJP on Thursday hit back at the Opposition over criticising the visit, saying that the executive and judiciary praying before Gods, revered by crores of devotees across India, reflects the real strength of Indian secularism.
Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10-day festival, will continue until Anantha Chaturdashi.
The Prime Minister had participated in the auspicious Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI Chandrachud, here on Wednesday.
”Modi prayed to Lord Ganesh to bless us all with happiness, prosperity and wonderful health,” a statement said.
The CJI, along with his wife Kalpana Das, welcomed the PM at his residence.
“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 PM also said in a post on X.
Reacting sharply on Opposition leaders’ criticism over PM Modi visiting CJI Chandrachud’s residence for Ganesh Puja, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav in a post on X said, ” The same people who applaud and encourage presence of Prime Ministers at Iftars find their guts twisting and turning when they see PM Modi perform Ganpati Poojan at CJI DY Chandrachud’s residence. The executive and judiciary praying before Gods revered by crores of devotees across India reflects the real strength of Indian secularism. ”
Meanwhile, addressing media at the BJP headquarters, party National Spokesperson Sambit Patra reminded the Opposition of the Iftar parties held during the UPA government’s tenure.
He said the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is from Maharashtra and had organised a Ganpati Puja at his home, naturally inviting several people. The BJP leader criticised those questioning the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, saying that the focus should be on the Ganpati Puja, not the meeting.
He further recalled that during the UPA era, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh used to host Iftar parties, which the Chief Justice of that time also attended.
“Did they not meet then? Didn’t they sit at the same table and talk? That was also a festival (Iftar party), and this was also a festival (Ganpati Puja). So why object now? Why is there discrimination between these two festivals?” he questioned.
Patra also accused the opposition of playing politics over the Ganpati Puja, saying that PM Modi attended the puja at the CJI’s invitation, but some people are politicising it.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had raised his concerns about the impartiality of Chief Justice Chandrachud following PM Modi’s visit to the CJI’s house for Ganpati Puja. Raut, through his statements, tried to cast doubt on the Chief Justice’s ability to deliver a fair judgement in the ongoing Maharashtra case, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu has challenged the ruling of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
The ruling held that the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction is the ‘real’ Shiv Sena.
During the Ganpati festival, Prime Minister Modi visited the Chief Justice’s residence, where they jointly performed an Aarti.
Raut questioned this interaction and said, “Look, it is Ganpati festival. How many people’s houses has the Prime Minister visited so far? I don’t have the information. Ganesh festival is celebrated in many places in Delhi, but the Prime Minister went to the Chief Justice’s house, and the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice together performed the Aarti.”
Raut claims his concerns arise from the fact that the Maharashtra case, involving allegations against the current state government, is under Chief Justice Chandrachud’s review.
He said, “Our knowledge of God is such that if the custodians of the Constitution meet political leaders in this manner, then people have doubts.” He further argued that the Prime Minister, who is a party in the case, should not have such close interactions with the Chief Justice.
According to Raut, the Chief Justice should recuse himself from the case as his ‘relations’ with the head of the central government are ‘openly visible’.
Raut also added, “Dates have been given one after the other for the last three years. An illegal government is running.” He criticised the breaking up of parties like the NCP and Shiv Sena and accused the Prime Minister of taking an interest in maintaining the Maharashtra government to ‘save it.’
Raut also reiterated his call for Chief Justice Chandrachud to distance himself from the case.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, “It seems to me that there is a tradition that in such cases, if there is a party and the judge has or is seen to have any relation with it, then he dissociates himself from that case. So, I feel that Chandrachud sahab (sir) should dissociate himself from it (real Shiv-Sena case).”