BJP Counters Criticism Over PM's Ganpati Visit with 'Manmohan Singh's Iftar'
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla responded to criticism surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud's home for Ganpati Puja by sharing an old photo from 2009. The image showed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosting an iftar party at his residence, attended by then Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, alongside other political leaders.
Poonawalla accused the opposition of "double standards," pointing out that while PM Modi is being questioned for attending a religious event with the current CJI, similar interactions in the past were deemed acceptable. He highlighted the participation of prominent leaders, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader LK Advani, and CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury, at Singh's iftar gathering.
Earlier, PM Modi had posted photos from CJI Chandrachud's Delhi residence, where he attended a Ganpati Puja in traditional Maharashtrian attire. Opposition parties raised concerns over the visit, suggesting it could compromise the judiciary's impartiality, especially given that cases involving the Maharashtra political scenario are being heard by CJI Chandrachud.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut expressed doubts over receiving justice in the ongoing case, given the Prime Minister's involvement in the Ganpati Puja, and urged the CJI to recuse himself to maintain judicial integrity.