Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 13: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday criticised the Congress after its Kerala unit posted a message on social media demanding the resignation of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. The controversial post was subsequently deleted, and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) removed the person responsible for publishing it from the position.
The post on the Congress Kerala account on X stated, “If law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.”
The message came after the Chief Justice reportedly said that the law and order situation in Delhi was not within his domain, amid restrictions imposed during Opposition protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Reacting to the post, Rijiju accused the Congress of targeting constitutional institutions and said the judiciary could be the party’s next target.
“I had said it earlier, next target of the Congress Party is Judiciary. Congress wants to destroy all the constitutional and democratic institutions of India. All Anti-India gangs are joining hands. All patriotic Indians will also come together,” he wrote on X.
In another post, sharing a clip of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in an interview, Rijiju took a swipe at the Congress leadership and its internal functioning. He also described the party as directionless and criticised its leadership, saying it needed a mature and committed leader.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also condemned the Congress post, alleging that it insulted the Constitution and threatened the Chief Justice of India. He claimed that the Congress believed the Gandhi-Vadra family was above the Constitution and accused the party of disrespecting democratic institutions.
Clarifying the party’s position, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the controversial message had been posted without the knowledge, consent or consultation of the state party leadership. He confirmed that the person responsible had been removed from the charge and said the committee would examine the circumstances in which the post was published.
Joseph also clarified that the Congress had no disagreement with the impartiality of the judiciary and that social media posts expressing views contrary to the leadership’s position did not reflect the official stand of the KPCC.
The Supreme Court Bar Association also condemned the post, stating that every person had the opportunity to approach the courts and seek remedies in accordance with the law. It said statements of this nature belittled the judiciary and amounted to an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice.
The controversy has emerged amid an ongoing political confrontation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of large-scale voter deletions and irregularities.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have approached the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the SIR exercise and demanding action over alleged electoral irregularities. The Opposition has also sought the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging “vote chori”.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) leader M A Baby, CPI leader D Raja, JMM leader Mahua Majhi, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and IUML leader E T Mohammed Basheer are among the petitioners in the plea filed before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Registry was directed to process Rahul Gandhi’s petition on Monday and ensure that any defects were rectified so that the matter could be listed for hearing on Tuesday. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant was scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday, following the Chief Justice’s indication that the petition would be taken up if filed by Monday evening.