New Delhi:

The Congress on Thursday hit back at the BJP amid a political row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s home for Ganesh Chaturthi.

The BJP had countered the opposition’s initial barrage of criticism by pointing to an Iftar party hosted by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which was attended by then Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla led that particular charge, sharing a photo of the two meeting and declaring, “Attending Ganesh puja is no crime… but if PM attends it at the house of the Chief Justice… Congress ecosystem attacks Supreme Court like Rahul Gandhi in the past.”

The Congress’ Mumbai unit responded Thursday evening with a post on X.

“What they (the BJP) fail to understand is the fundamental difference between a public event like an Iftar, held transparently in front of the media and the public, and a private religious ceremony at someone’s residence, conducted away from public scrutiny.”

Some BJP members are attempting to justify PM Modi’s visit to the CJI for Ganesh Puja by sharing a photo of former PM Manmohan Singh Ji with then CJI K.G. Balakrishnan at an Iftar party.

What they fail to understand is the fundamental difference between a public event like an… pic.twitter.com/DxV3J84oh4

— Mumbai Congress (@INCMumbai) September 12, 2024

With that jab the Congress shared images of Mr Modi greeting Mr Chandrachud, and Dr Singh at his party with Mr Balakrishnan at his side. “Conflating the two is misleading and shows a lack of understanding of issues of transparency and propriety in separation of powers,” the party said.

The Congress and other opposition parties had criticised the PM’s visit to the Chief Justice’s home, with RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP saying it sends an “uncomfortable message”.

Several others expressed similar concerns.

Sanjay Raut, ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s aide, even suggested the Chief Justice recuse himself from hearing the legal tussle between the two warring Shiv Sena factions.

“How many (other) people’s houses has he visited so far? I don’t have the information. This festival is celebrated in many places… but he went to the Chief Justice’s house… if the custodians of the Constitution meet political leaders like this, then people have doubts.”

READ |Opposition vs BJP After PM Visits CJI’s Home For Ganesh Puja

The BJP responded sharply to the criticism.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said those who had applauded the presence of Mr Modi at Iftar parties “find their guts twisting and turning” on seeing him at a Ganesh puja.

“The executive and judiciary praying before Gods revered by crores across India reflects the strength of Indian secularism. Deal with it,” he said in a post on X.

The Prime Minister had visited the Mr Chandrachud’s Delhi residence for Ganesh puja and received a warm welcome from the Chief Justice and his wife Kalpana Das.

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. pic.twitter.com/dfWlR7elky

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2024

“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 Prime Minister said in a post on X and shared a photograph showing him, the Chief Justice, and his wife praying before a Ganesh idol.

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New Delhi:

A massive political row has erupted over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on the occasion of Ganesh Puja. A section of Opposition leaders have criticised the meeting, one of them saying it sends an “uncomfortable message”. The BJP has hit back, saying that attending Ganesh Puja is not a crime and judges and politicians often share dais. 

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. pic.twitter.com/dfWlR7elky

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2024

The Prime Minister visited the Chief Justice’s Delhi residence for Ganesh Puja yesterday and received a warm welcome from him and his wife Kalpana Das. “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 Prime Minister said in a post on X and shared a photograph showing him, the Chief Justice and his wife praying.

#WATCH | On PM Modi visiting CJI DY Chandrachud’s residence for Ganpati Poojan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, ” Ganpathi festival is going on, people visit each other’s houses. I don’t have info regarding how many houses PM visited so far…but PM went to CJI’s house… pic.twitter.com/AVp26wl7Yz

— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2024

Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP and a leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), said such meetings raise doubts. He also said the Chief Justice of India must recuse himself from a case linked to the tussle between Shiv Sena UBT and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

“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. Our knowledge of God is such that if the custodians of the Constitution meet political leaders in this manner, then people have doubts,” Mr Raut said.

He said the Chief Justice should recuse himself from the case as his “relations” with the head of the central government are “openly visible”. “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 should dissociate himself from it.”

Okay.
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… https://t.co/tw0C1Smr5s

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) September 11, 2024

Mr Raut’s party colleague Priyanka Chaturvedi, too, put out a post on the Prime Minister’s visit to the Chief Justice’s home and pointed to the repeated adjournments in the case. “Okay. 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,” the MP posted on X.

VIDEO | “Independence of every institution shouldn’t be oVIDEO | “Independence of every institution shouldn’t be only theoretical, it should be visible. Attending Ganpati Pujan is a very personal issue, however, it sends an uncomfortable message,” says RJD leader Manoj Jha… pic.twitter.com/3guhv0GeqP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 12, 2024

Manoj Jha, RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP, told news agency PTI that the independence of every institution is not just theoretical, but must be seen. “Ganpati puja is a personal issue, but you are taking a camera. The message it sends is uncomfortable. The Chief Justice of India and the Prime Minister are tall personalities. So what can we say if they agreed to put out these photographs in the public domain.”

Earlier, in a post on X, Mr Jha shared the visuals of the Prime Minister’s visit with the caption: “That is the state of the republic ….ladies and gentlemen. Jai Hind.”

Attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime
On many occasions judiciary and politicians share stage

On auspicious functions, marriages, programs – but if PM attends it at house of CJI , Uddhav Sena MP doubts integrity of CJI & SC. Congress ecosystem attacks SC like Rahul Gandhi did in… pic.twitter.com/ALwORw10GE

— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 12, 2024

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at the Opposition leaders for their criticism of the Prime Minister’s visit. “Attending Ganesh Pooja is no crime. On many occasions, judiciary and politicians share stage. On auspicious functions, marriages, programs – but if PM attends it at house of CJI , Uddhav Sena MP doubts integrity of CJI & SC. Congress ecosystem attacks SC like Rahul Gandhi did in past,” Mr Poonawalla said, adding that it’s a “shameful contempt of court & abusing judiciary”. The BJP leader also said a 2009 Iftar party hosted by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was attended by the then Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan.