‘Deal with it’: OPPN vs BJP on PM Modi attending Ganpati Puja celebrations at CJI’s house | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: A major political row erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for Ganesh Puja.
Several opposition leaders have criticised the meeting, suggesting it could raise doubts about the independence of the judiciary. The BJP, however, has strongly defended the prime minister’s visit, calling the opposition’s criticism “unfortunate”.
PM Modi on Wednesday visited the residence of CJI on the occasion of Ganesh festival and offered prayers. A video showed Chandrachud and his wife Kalpana Das welcoming Modi to their home.
PM also shared a photo on X showing them praying together and expressed his wishes for happiness, prosperity and good health.
“Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji. May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity and splendid health,” the Prime Minister said.
Opposition lashes out at PM Modi
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut questioned the propriety of the meeting, saying people might have doubts if the custodians of the Constitution met political leaders.
“Our case is before CJI Chandrachud. We doubt whether we will get justice as the Centre is a party to our case and the (central) government is headed by the prime minister,” Raut said.
“The CJI has repeatedly said that the government is unconstitutional but no verdict has been given despite his retirement approaching. Amidst this, the Prime Minister has reached his residence. There is doubt in the minds of people when ‘protectors of the Constitution meet political people’, he added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticised the Prime Minister’s visit and linked it to the upcoming elections.
“Once the festivities are over, hopefully CJI will see fit and be a little more free to wrap up the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard for Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra. Oh wait, elections are around the corner, it can be postponed for another day,” she said.

Supriya Sule, working chairperson of the NCP (SP), said that when she heard about the development, “I was surprised… But I have full confidence in the judiciary, but not in the government”.
Manoj Jha, RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP, told news agency PTI that the independence of any institution should not just be theoretical but also visible.
“Ganpati Puja “It’s a personal issue, but you’re taking a camera. The message it sends is uncomfortable. The Chief Justice of India and the Prime Minister are big personalities. So what can we say when they have agreed to put these pictures in the public domain,” he said.
BJP hits back at opposition
BJP leaders strongly defended the Prime Minister’s visit, stressing that it was a devotional Ganesh Puja and not just a social get-together.
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora criticised the opposition’s remarks, terming them “reckless” and “irresponsible”.
“When the rulings go in their favor, the opposition praises the credibility of the Supreme Court, but when things don’t go their way, they conveniently claim that the judiciary is in danger,” he wrote in a post on X.
“This reckless attempt to undermine the credibility of the CJI by the opposition is not only irresponsible but also detrimental to the integrity of the institution. Politics in India is taking an ugly turn,” Deora said.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also hit back at the BJP, accusing the Congress of having “a problem with Hindu festivals”
“The entire Congress and communist ecosystem has been turned upside down after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Ganpati Poojan at the residence of CJI DY Chandrachud. The same accused considered it an epitome of secularism when Dr Manmohan Singh organised Iftar parties and CJI would be present thereafter,” he said in a post on X.
“Their problem is not just the civility and cordiality between the PM and the CJI, but Ganesh Chaturthi. The Congress and the communists have always had a problem with Hindu festivals and now they have a problem with Maharashtra too, which celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with great enthusiasm,” he added.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said those who applaud the presence of prime ministers at Iftars but criticise Modi’s participation in Ganesh Puja are wrong. He asserted that the executive and judiciary praying together to revered deities reflects the true strength of Indian secularism.
“The same people who cheer and encourage the presence of Prime Ministers at Iftars get goosebumps when they see Prime Minister Modi performing Ganpati Poojan at the residence of CJI DY Chandrachud,” he said.
“The executive and judiciary praying to deities revered by millions of devotees across India reflects the real strength of Indian secularism. Address it,” he added.
Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters on Thursday, party spokesperson Sambit Patra also reminded the Opposition of the Iftar celebrations held during the tenure of the UPA government.
He recalled that during the UPA era, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh used to host Iftar parties, which were also attended by the then Chief Justice.
“Didn’t they meet then? Didn’t they sit at the same table and talk? That was also a festival (Iftar party), and this was also a festival (Ganpati Puja). So why raise objections now? Why is there discrimination between these two festivals?” he asked.
Patra expressed surprise that there are objections when the prime minister meets the Chief Justice, but there are no objections when Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar, a well-known critic of India and a supporter of Pakistan.
“What do these people want? Do they want the pillars of democracy not to meet? Does attending an Aarti change the equations?” the BJP spokesperson asked.