Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday embarked on a vitriolic attack against top lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, terming him an "average lawyer" and stating that Parliament would not be run according to someone's individual interests.
Rijiju's remarks came after Sibal's advice to the opposition not to back any impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma unless a probe is ordered under similar proceedings against Justice Shekhar Yadav for his reported "communal" remarks.
Talking to PTI, Rijiju accused, "I got some information about Kapil Sibal's attempt to save someone and to act against someone. What I have understood is that Kapil Sibal is an old man, but he only works for his own agenda. He doesn't care about anyone. I have asked him to spend some time in Parliament as well. He believes that he can lecture the MPs and then return to court."
The minister also added that Sibal seemed to overestimate his power and intellectual position in Parliament. "He doesn't know that many MPs have moved miles ahead of him in terms of comprehension, intellectuality, in terms of awareness. The super citizen far, he is an average lawyer very much, but he has been placed in such a thing. that he is the one who will throw light on everything. He can't lead the Parliament of India.
Emphasizing the joint responsibility of parliamentarians, Rijiju further said, "We will not be agenda-driven by one lawyer MP. We are not here to drive an agenda or set an agenda. We are acting in the interest of the nation. Why is one fellow running around? He has no business leading Parliament. Parliament is to be led by all the members together."
Discussing the outstanding issue of motions for impeachment, Rijiju did not provide a clear position. "I would not take a position on the question of the removal motion of any judge or any proposal pending with me because the session of the Parliament is to commence on July 21," he stated.
He asserted that Parliament is still the only constitutional platform to remove a judge of the Supreme Court or High Courts. "They cannot be removed by any other platform because Parliament is the highest elected platform," he said, pointing out MPs are elected by Indian people to represent them.
Kapil Sibal has been a strong supporter of Justice Shekhar Yadav's ouster. He pointed out that the petition to oust Yadav, supported by 55 opposition MPs from the Rajya Sabha, has been pending since December 2024. Sibal has also accused the government of covering up for the judge in question.
Read also| Dilip Ghosh Sits Out Modi Rally, Claims Party Discouraged His Presence
