Amid a growing controversy over remarks made by BJP MPs targeting the Supreme Court, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has turned the tables on the Congress, accusing the opposition party of attacking the judiciary in the past. Himanta Sarma’s statements come after BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma made controversial remarks, leading party president JP Nadda to intervene and distance the party from the comments. Himanta Sarma used this opportunity to highlight the Congress’s historical criticism of the judiciary and emphasize the BJP’s consistent stance on judicial independence.
Himanta Sarma asserted that the BJP has always upheld the dignity and independence of the judiciary, describing it as a core value in India’s democracy. Referring to Nadda’s intervention, which clarified that the controversial remarks were personal opinions and not the party’s official stance, Himanta Sarma reaffirmed that the BJP remains committed to judicial independence. He stressed that while the BJP maintains this principled position, it is important to review the Congress party’s history of criticizing judges when their decisions didn’t align with political expectations.
Listing incidents where the Congress criticized members of the judiciary, Himanta Sarma pointed out the impeachment motion against former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, which was initiated by the opposition without substantial evidence. He also highlighted the backlash faced by former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi following his landmark judgments, including the Ayodhya verdict. Additionally, Himanta Sarma mentioned Justice Arun Mishra’s judicial decisions, which led to criticism from Congress despite his adherence to constitutional duties.
He also referenced former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice S Abdul Nazeer, who faced scrutiny over their decisions and appointments. Himanta Sarma suggested that such criticisms from the Congress reflect a pattern of undermining the judiciary when decisions do not favor their political narrative. He argued that selective criticism of the judiciary erodes public trust and undermines the fundamental principles of democracy.
In response to the controversy, Nishikant Dubey shared Himanta Sarma’s post with a shayari by Fani Badayuni, which reflected his thoughts on political pressures. The remarks by Dubey and Sharma were sparked by the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Tamil Nadu case, which set a deadline for the President and Governors to clear bills. Dubey expressed concerns over the judiciary’s expanding role, questioning whether it was appropriate for the Supreme Court to dictate actions to the President and Governors.
The opposition has strongly criticized the BJP MPs’ remarks, with leaders like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress’s Jairam Ramesh accusing the BJP of attempting to weaken the Supreme Court. Owaisi warned that such threats to the judiciary could weaken the country, while Ramesh highlighted that the government was being targeted due to the Court’s rulings on issues like electoral bonds.
