In response to the recent developments where over 600 lawyers, including prominent figures like senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, penned a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, raising concerns about alleged attempts to pressure the judiciary and tarnish the courts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing critique on the Congress party, whom he accused of perpetuating a "vintage Congress culture" of intimidation and coercion.
PM Modi's remarks on X (formerly known as Twitter) targeted the Congress party's historical penchant for browbeating and bullying others, citing their past call for a "committed judiciary" as emblematic of their desire for allegiance to serve their own interests. He highlighted the contradiction between the Congress's demands for commitment from others while shirking commitment to the nation, asserting that their tactics are being rebuffed by the Indian populace.
This assertion by PM Modi elicited a swift response from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who criticized the Prime Minister for allegedly orchestrating an attack on the judiciary under the guise of defending it. Kharge outlined three key points highlighting what he described as a crisis within the judiciary during the Modi government's tenure.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed Kharge's sentiments, accusing PM Modi of manipulating democracy and undermining the Constitution. Ramesh specifically referenced recent Supreme Court rulings, such as the verdict on the Electoral Bonds Scheme, which the court deemed unconstitutional, as evidence of the judiciary's resistance against the government's policies.
Earlier in the day, the letter penned by the lawyers addressed to CJI Chandrachud highlighted concerns about a "vested interest group" allegedly attempting to influence the judiciary and tarnish the courts' reputation, particularly in cases involving political corruption. The lawyers expressed apprehension that certain individuals within the legal fraternity were defending politicians by day and seeking to influence judges through media manipulation by night.
The letter underscored the detrimental impact of such tactics on the judiciary's integrity and the democratic fabric of the nation, urging for vigilance against efforts to pressure the judiciary and undermine its independence.
