PM Modi’s Ganesh pooja at CJI’s home provokes political row

Opposition raises concerns about blurring the separation between the judiciary and executive, and “doubts” about justice in the CJI’s court; BJP says this is a “shameful attack on Hindu sentiments”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice of India Dhananjay Chandrachud’s residence on Wednesday, where he did a Gauri-Ganesh pooja during the auspicious festival of Ganeshotsav, has triggered a political war of words. The Opposition claimed that it compromised the constitutionally mandated separation between the judiciary and the executive, but the BJP hit back, terming the criticism as a hatred of Hinduism.

Shiv Sena UBT leader and MP Sanjay Raut slammed the PM, linking his visit to the delay in the hearing of some key cases and to the allegedly selective suo moto actions of the top court.

“Our case of Maharashtra — the hearing is going on before CJI Chandrachud, so we have doubt if we will get justice because PM is the other party in the case. Will CJI Chandrachud be able to give us justice in such a situation? We are getting dates after dates and an illegal government is going on functioning here,” he said. “The Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party were broken in such a way. We are not getting justice and PM Modi is taking a lot of interest in the illegal government of Maharashtra, to save them. The CJI who is supposed to give us justice, shares such a bond with the PM!” he added.

‘Shameful attack’

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai, countered Mr Raut’s criticism. In a statement, he “strongly condemn[ed] the Opposition leaders for their shameful attack on Hindu sentiments and our festivals, which we proudly celebrate.”

“Lokmanya Tilak ji had started saarvajanik (public) Ganesh Utsav in 1893 to bring together all nationalists to fight in the freedom struggle. Indians, every Maharashtrian, proudly celebrates Ganesh Utsav; some families for over 100 years have been inviting their friends and well-wishers to join in the prayers for removing vighna (obstacles) from their life and bringing sukh (happiness). The Opposition’s myopic vision is obsessed with appeasement politics and their hatred towards Hindus is once more out in the open. The people of India will never forgive the Opposition for attacking high constitutional authorities like the Hon’ble PM and Hon’ble CJI for performing Ganesh puja,” he said.

‘Hatred against Hindutva’

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also termed the Opposition reaction as “hatred against Hindutva”. He tweeted some old photos of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the then-CJI, and pointed out that former CJI Balakrishnan had gone to the then-PM’s residence for an Iftar party, and that nobody had objected at that time.

“Ganeshotsav is celebrated all over the country. Yesterday, Honourable PM went to Honourable CJI’s residence and did Gauri-Ganesh poojan. The CJI is from Maharashtra. And every year, he brings Lord Ganesha’s idol from a Maharashtrian person. But today, the entire ecosystem was activated as if hell had broken loose. The only difference is that the earlier Prime Ministers used to host Iftar parties at their residences and that these parties were attended by the Chief Justice. Then why such an outcry after the Honourable PM goes for a Ganapati and Mahalakshmi puja? The deeper question is, is this not an insult of Maharashtrian festivals, of Maharashtra dharma, Marathi culture?” he said.

Published - September 12, 2024 01:38 pm IST