Targeting the central government, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the Constitution is being ignored, constitutional bodies are being weakened and efforts are being made to destroy the judiciary.
Khanbal: Hitting out at the government, the Congress on Friday alleged that there is an “undeclared emergency” in the country and attempts are being made to “make the judiciary a part of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)”.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the purpose of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is to highlight such ‘dangers’ in front of the country.
Addressing a press conference here, Ramesh said the yatra was aimed at highlighting the growing economic disparity, alleged social polarization for electoral gains on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the prevailing ‘crisis’ in the country. Political dictatorship’ has to be marked.
Referring to the border standoff between India and China, Ramesh said, ‘There is an undeclared emergency in the country. One man’s rule, Parliament is being ignored, there is no debate in Parliament. The danger on our borders is an example of this, which has not been discussed even after two and a half years have passed.
He alleged, ‘The Constitution is being ignored, constitutional bodies are being weakened and efforts are being made to destroy the judiciary. Comments are being made every day, efforts are being made to make the judiciary a part of the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office).
His remarks came in the backdrop of the ongoing debate on the issue of appointments to the higher judiciary, with the government questioning the current collegium system and the Supreme Court defending it.
Ramesh said at a press conference, “So the question is, when no one is breaking the country, why has the Congress come out to unite India, we are saying that the country is being divided, there are dangers and if we step If we do not raise it, then the dangers will increase, so we are raising our voice against economic disparities, social polarization and political dictatorship. The election strategy has nothing to do with the yatra.
He said, ‘There are two ways – one way is of RSS-BJP and according to their way they are using ‘one person, one system’ and the other way is of harmony, which is the way of Congress, the way of Mahatma Gandhi. Yes, it is the way of Rahul Gandhi, where the tune of democracy is being played.. These are the two ways, which are in front of our country.
It may be known that under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ started on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. It will culminate with Rahul Gandhi unfurling the national flag at the party headquarters in Srinagar and addressing a massive rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium on January 30.
Before Ramesh, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday (January 25) alleged that the Narendra Modi government was deliberately attacking (him) to clash with the judiciary against which people need to stand.
Kharge had also claimed that a conspiracy is going on to subdue every institution which was running independently as per the constitution (by the government) by putting its own people in it.
It is noteworthy that the Collegium system of appointment of judges has been a matter of deadlock between the Center and the Judiciary for some time now, where Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has made various comments several times regarding the Collegium system.
Even before this, Rijiju has been making critical statements about the judiciary, the Supreme Court and the collegium system for some time.
In November 2022, Kiren Rijiju described the collegium system as ‘opaque and alien’. The apex court had also expressed displeasure over his remarks.
Responding to allegations that the government was ‘sitting’ on various recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium, Rijiju had said that it should never be said that the government is sitting on files.
In November 2022 itself, the Supreme Court had also said that it is unacceptable for the government to withhold the names sent by the Collegium. After this, CJI DY Chandrachud had said in defense of the collegium system that no institution is perfect in a constitutional democracy.
After this, in December 2022, the Supreme Court had said that the collegium system of appointment of judges is the law of this country and it is not right to comment against it. The top court had said that any law declared by it is ‘binding’ on all stakeholders and the collegium system should be followed.
At the same time, in the beginning of this month, Rijiju had written a letter to CJI DY Chandrachud saying that the representatives of the Central Government should be given a place in the Supreme Court Collegium and the representatives of the State Government in the High Court Collegium. The demand was widely criticized by the opposition.
On January 22 itself, Rijiju supported the views of former Delhi High Court judge Justice RS Sodhi by sharing a video of his interview. Sodhi had said that the Supreme Court itself has ‘hijacked’ the Constitution by deciding on the appointment of judges.
Sodhi had also said that the Parliament has the right to make laws. Regarding this, the Law Minister said, ‘Actually most of the people have similar sensible views. There are only a few people who disregard the provisions and mandate of the Constitution and think they are above the Constitution of India.
(With inputs from news agency Bhasha)
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Categories: India, Politics