You've Time For Puja With PM Modi, But Not For Justice?: Swara Bhaskar Slams CJI Chandrachud

Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar has expressed strong criticism of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud for inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his home for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Bhaskar took aim at the CJI, highlighting delays in delivering justice to prisoners held in jails without trial.

Bhaskar questioned the CJI's priorities, stating, "What are you afraid of? You have time to perform a puja with PM Modi, but you don't have 20 minutes for justice?" She referenced the long-pending cases of individuals like former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid, who has been imprisoned for over four years without trial.

Reflecting on her own position, Bhaskar pointed to the privilege of her Hindu identity. She noted, "I also raised my voice and participated in protests, but I wasn't jailed. Why? Because I was born into a Hindu family. Authorities likely found it inconvenient to arrest me." She further suggested that Umar Khalid and others were easy targets because of their Muslim identity.

Drawing attention to the treatment of Khalid and other activists like Sharjeel Imam, who have been jailed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) since the 2020 Delhi Riots, Bhaskar remarked, "You can easily label a Muslim as a terrorist. But branding the daughter of a Hindu ex-Navy officer as a terrorist-that would have been too much for them."

Bhaskar also criticized Delhi High Court judge Amit Sharma, who recently recused himself from hearing Umar Khalid's bail plea. She questioned his decision, asking, "What are you afraid of? Aren't you educated and paid by our taxes? By recusing yourself, aren't you betraying the people of India?"

Viral photos of CJI Chandrachud and PM Modi had hit social media on September 12. It instantly sparked outrage among sections of the legal community.

She was speaking at an event called Curtailed Freedoms: A Travesty of Justice hosted by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) and Concerned Citizens Delhi.

Congress leaser Digvijay Singh, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Kunal Kamra, Nargis Saifi, Swara Bhasker, and Justice Madan Lokur attended the event held at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi.