Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora on Thursday termed the opposition’s criticism over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s residence during Ganesh Chaturthi as “a very low form of politics.”
“I would like to tell Sanjay Raut and others who may not be aware of India and specifically Maharashtra’s culture and tradition with regards to Ganeshotsav. During Ganesh Chaturthi, people visit the homes of even their political opponents. I have been doing this for 20 years…So, to make a political statement and to politicise the PM’s visit to the CJI’s home when he is going to take Ganpati darshan, I think, is a very low form of politics,” Deora told media.
“One can also ask the question that in 2009, when K.G. Balakrishnan was the CJI, at that time incumbent PM Dr Manmohan Singh hosted an Iftar party at his residence, which was attended by the CJI.
“One can ask a question then also?… So, these are very immature remarks made by the opposition, and I would urge the people who are making these statements to understand the cultural ethos of Maharashtra, of Ganeshotsav, and rather than politicising this, learn to go to Bappa and take his darshan,” he added.
BJP MP Sambit Patra has also slammed the opposition, saying that they are doing politics over the Ganesh prayers offered by PM Modi at the CJI’s residence.
“The leaders of the opposition are doing politics over the Ganesh prayers offered by PM Modi at CJI Chandrachud’s residence yesterday… Should the different pillars of democracy not converge? Should they be enemies?… Should they have no courtesies towards each other?
“This is the beauty of democracy that there are different behaviours while being on and off duty… You have an objection to the PM meeting the CJI but no objection when Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar, the Chinese Premier, and signs the MoU, with George Soros… They have a problem with Ganesh Puja, but did the former PM Manmohan Singh not attend Iftaar parties?” Patra told reporters in Delhi on Thursday.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had raised his concerns about the impartiality of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud following PM Modi’s visit to the CJI’s house for Ganpati Puja.
Raut, through his statements, tried to cast doubt on the Chief Justice’s ability to deliver a fair judgement in the ongoing Maharashtra case, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu has challenged the ruling of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. The ruling held that the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction is the real Shiv Sena.
During the Ganpati festival, Prime Minister Modi visited the Chief Justice’s residence, where they jointly performed an Aarti.
Raut questioned this interaction and said, “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.”
Raut said that his concerns arise from the fact that the Maharashtra case, involving allegations against the current state government, is under Chief Justice Chandrachud’s review.