"To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture. 5 decades ago itself they had called for a "committed judiciary" - they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests but desist from any commitment towards the nation," PM Narendra Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Modi in effect launched a scathing attack on Congress hours after about 600 lawyers across the country wrote to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, alleging that a "vested interest group" is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame the courts.
"No wonder, 140 crore Indians are rejecting them," Modi tweeted.
PM's unprecedented remarks drew an immediate response from the Congress leadership.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to X and wrote a three-point post highlighting crisis in the judiciary under the Modi government's regime.
Earlier in the day, the letter targeted a section of lawyers without naming them and alleged that they defend politicians by day and then try to influence judges through the media at night.
"We are writing to you expressing our deepest concern on the manner in which a vested interest group is trying to pressure the judiciary, influence judicial process and defame our courts on the basis of frivolous logic and stale political agendas. Their antics are vitiating the atmosphere of trust and harmony, which characterises the functioning of the judiciary.
Their pressure tactics are most obvious in political cases, particularly those involving political figures accused of corruption. These tactics are damaging to our courts and threaten our democratic fabric," the lawyers said in their letter.
Mr Kharge wrote to PM through Twitter itself:
"You are talking about Judiciary.
1. You conveniently forget that 4 senior-most Supreme Court judges were forced to hold an unprecedented press conference and warn against "destruction of Democracy". That happened under your regime.
One of the judges was nominated by your Govt to the Rajya Sabha. So WHO wants a 'committed judiciary' ?
2. You forget that your party has fielded a Former HC Judge in West Bengal for the current Lok Sabha elections. Why was this candidature bestowed on him?
3. Who brought the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)? Why was it stuck down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court?
Modi ji, Institution after Institution is being 'bullied' by you into submission, so STOP pinning the blame on the Congress party, for your own sins!
"You have mastered the art of manipulating Democracy and hurting the Constitution !"
"The PM's brazenness in orchestrating and coordinating an attack on the judiciary, in the name of defending the judiciary, is the height of hypocrisy! The Supreme Court has delivered body blows to him in recent weeks. The Electoral Bonds Scheme is but one example. The Supreme Court declared them to be unconstitutional - and it is now proved beyond doubt that they were a blatant instrument of fear, blackmail, and intimidation to force companies to donate to the BJP," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.
"Instead of giving a legal guarantee to MSP, the Prime Minister has given a legal guarantee to corruption. All that the Prime Minister has done in the last ten years is divide, distort, divert, and defame. 140 crore Indians are waiting to give him a befitting reply very soon," he added.
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