On Sunday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma initiated a scathing attack on the Congress party, citing several instances where the opposition party has attacked the judiciary.
Sarma also reiterated the BJP's unflinching commitment to maintaining the dignity of the judiciary, particularly after the party had distanced itself from a controversial remark by MP Nishikant Dubey.
On an X post, Sarma said, "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently maintained the independence and integrity of the judiciary as an essential cornerstone of India's democracy. Recently, Hon'ble BJP President Shri JP Nadda ji renewed this resolve by distancing the party from comments made by Hon'ble MP Shri Nishikant Dubey ji regarding the Supreme Court.". Adarniya Nadda Ji explained that these were personal views and not the party's official stand, reaffirming the BJP's deep respect for the institutions of the judiciary.
He added, "While the BJP remains committed to this principled position, it is important to look at the Congress Party's past interactions with the judiciary. The Congress has repeatedly publicly attacked leading members of the judiciary:
– Justice Dipak Misra: Confronted with a historic impeachment motion by Congress and other opposition parties on charges of misconduct without sufficient evidence.
– Justice Ranjan Gogoi: Experienced scathing criticism following historic judgments, including the Ayodhya judgment.
– Justice Arun Mishra: Pulled up for his judicial verdicts and his supposed proximity to the executive, despite being a regular and active judge in discharge of his constitutional obligations.
– Justice D.Y. Chandrachud: Targeted for his judgments in big cases, reflecting a pattern of disapproval where judgments did not meet the political expectations of the Congress.
– Justice S. Abdul Nazeer: Criticized by Congress for his appointment as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh shortly after his retirement, which they alleged violated judicial independence, although such appointments had been done before.
Sarma contended that this trend points to a tendency in the Congress to challenge the credibility of the judiciary whenever judgments fail to meet their political agendas. Such selective criticism erodes the credibility of judicial proceedings and sets a disturbing precedent for democratic discourse, he warned.
It is essential for all political parties to approach judiciary verdicts consistently and in the spirit of honesty. Appreciation of the judiciary should not come in the event of favorable judgment. Partial endorsement erodes faith in the citizens and undermines basic tenets of our democracy," Sarma finalized. "Although the BJP maintains respect for the judiciary's unprejudiced role, there is a need for opposition to rethink its way, so criticisms are in consonance with principles and not necessarily political considerations."
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