BJP’s Sarma Responds To Nishikant Dubey's Comments, Slams Congress For Past Attacks on Judiciary

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has replied to the ongoing issue over statements made by BJP MPs that target the Supreme Court by blaming the Congress of continuously undermining the judiciary. By citing incidents where the BJP openly attacked judges, Sarma attempted to turn the attention to the Congress. His words followed inflammatory remarks made by Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, which prompted BJP president JP Nadda to step in and disassociate the party from the remarks.

Sarma underlined that as a cornerstone of India's democracy, the BJP has consistently supported the independence and dignity of the judiciary. Sarma reaffirmed the party's commitment to judicial independence in reaction to Dubey's comments, which BJP Chief Nadda quickly denied.

Nadda underlined that the BJP firmly believes that the judiciary should be immune from political influence and has a deep respect for judicial institutions.

Sarma reiterated the BJP's stance while pointing out the Congress Party's past dealings with the judiciary, mentioning multiple occasions in which Congress members openly attacked judges. Sarma made reference to Dipak Mishra, the former Chief Justice of India, who was the target of an unprecedented impeachment move by the Congress and other opposition parties, even though there was insufficient evidence to support the charges. The attacks on previous Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi after his rulings, including the historic Ayodhya verdict, were also brought to Sarma's attention.

Sarma also brought up the scrutiny that former Supreme Court Justice Arun Mishra was under and chastised Congress for singling him out for criticism because of his rulings and purported closeness to the administration. The Assam Chief Minister also cited complaints made against Justice DY Chandrachud for his interpretations of the law in important cases. Sarma also recalled how the Congress accused Justice S. Abdul Nazeer of undermining judicial independence when he was appointed Governor of Andhra Pradesh upon his retirement from the Supreme Court.

Sarma claims that this trend of selective criticism from the Congress indicates a propensity to question the judiciary's legitimacy when its rulings conflict with the political interests of the party. Sarma maintained that such acts create a risky precedent in the democratic process in addition to undermining the judiciary's credibility.

Regardless of whether the rulings support their political agendas, Sarma emphasized that political parties must treat court rulings consistently and with respect. He underlined that deference to the judiciary ought to be a core value, independent of successful decisions. In closing, Sarma urged opposition parties to think more broadly and make sure that their comments are grounded in principles rather than political expediency.

Nishikant Dubey shared Sarma's post on X and a couplet by Fani Badayuni, perhaps referencing the political pressure that caused the party to distance itself from his divisive remarks. Strong reactions followed Dubey's comments, which included claims of judicial overreach in the Tamil Nadu case. Dubey had argued that the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to impose deadlines on the President and Governors to approve measures was infringing on the executive branch's authority.

Following the issue, Nadda reiterated the BJP's support for the judiciary and stressed that Dubey's remarks were personal thoughts, claiming that the party had nothing to do with them. He went on to say that the party has told its leaders not to say things like that again.

Opposition politicians sharply criticized the BJP MPs' comments. Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of AIMIM, denounced the assaults on the Supreme Court and reminded BJP leaders that the court was given special authority by the Constitution's provisions, particularly Article 142. Jairam Ramesh, a Congress lawmaker, charged that BJP officials were attempting to weaken the Supreme Court, especially in view of its decisions on matters like electoral bonds. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar added his voice to the ongoing discussion about judicial independence and the balance of power in India's democracy by denouncing the Supreme Court's influence over issues such as presidential choices.