Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s remark about “some retired judges” being “part of the anti-India gang” has received flak from various Opposition leaders who have taken the minister to task for “talking like an outlaw” and “propagating injustice”.
Congress general secretary of communications Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “A Law Minister talking like an Outlaw. A Minister of Justice propagating Injustice. If this is not a threat to freedom AFTER speech what is?”
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar said, “A minister can’t make this statement and get away. Give proof. Don’t threaten. ‘(judges) will have to pay a price’. RSS didn’t participate in Freedom Struggle. and Hindu Mahasabha supported British. Don’t give us pro-India, anti-India gyan!”
CPI(M) leader and former Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac said, “Kiren Rijiju, on the roll — now he threatens judges: ‘Some retired judges part of anti-India gang; anyone against nation will have to pay’.Is he minister for law or lawlessness?”
Hitting out at Rijiju, lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said on Sunday, “A few politicians in government are part of ‘the know not what they say gang’.”
Speaking to ANI, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “Now for him to say that judges are anti-India, it is very shameful. Kiren Rijiju should apologize to the whole country that he is calling the Supreme Court judges anti-India. Kiren Rijiju should not cross the ‘Lakshman Rekha’. It is unfortunate that despite being a Law Minister, he crossed this ‘Lakshman Rekha’. Today the country is proud of its Supreme Court. Get a survey done all over the country, today there is only one institution in which people have faith, and that is the Supreme Court.”
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “What kind of democracy is this? Does it suit a law minister to threaten the judiciary? It is a threat to judges who refuse to bow down to the government and it’s an attempt to pressure the judiciary. Criticising the government doesn’t mean being against the nation.”
Swaraj Abhiyaan member and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said, “A fellow who is unfit to be a munsif is threatening judges.”
At the India Today Conclave in New Delhi on Saturday, Rijiju flagged what he called “a calibrated effort” to undermine the Indian judiciary and turn it against the government. “Recently, there was a seminar on accountability of judges. But somehow the entire seminar became how the executive is affecting the judiciary. There are a few judges who are activists and are part of an anti-India gang which is trying to turn judiciary against the government like the Opposition parties,” said the minister.
He added, “Some people even go to the Supreme Court and say please rein in the government. This cannot happen. Judiciary is neutral and judges are not part of any groups or political affiliations. How can these people openly say the Indian judiciary (should) take the government head-on?”
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks in the UK about Indian democracy being under threat, the minister said efforts to undermine the Indian judiciary were being made both inside the country and abroad. “Anybody, if Rahul Gandhi or anybody says that the Indian judiciary has been hijacked or that democracy is over in the country … the judiciary is dead, what does it mean? There is a calibrated effort to undermine the Indian judiciary. That is why day in and day out, they are trying to say the government is trying to take over the Indian judiciary.”
“The same ecosystem is working inside India and outside India also. Remember, people of India are with Modiji and our government. We will not allow this tukde tukde gang to destroy India’s integrity and sovereignty,” he said.
Responding to a question on the action taken by the government in this regard, he said: “Agencies will take action as per the provisions of law. Nobody will escape. Those who have worked against the country will have to pay a price for that.”
Rijiju also criticised the Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to make public its reasons for reiterating the names recommended for the appointment of judges and the government’s objections to some of them.
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, who was at the same event, later said: “He (Rijiju) has a perception. I have a perception and there is bound to be a difference in perceptions. And what’s wrong about having a differential perception… We have to deal with differences in perceptions even within the judiciary. And I am sure he has a great deal of respect for ours as well. The reason why we put this on the website is in pursuance of the desire of the present collegium, to meet the criticism that we like transparency, and the genuine belief that opening up our processes will foster confidence in our citizens about the work which we do”.
With PTI inputs
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