BJP shared the picture of Manmohan Singh’s Iftar party, opposition had raised questions on CJI and PM’s Ganesh Puja

The BJP has accused the opposition of adopting “double standards” for targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attending Ganpati puja at the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shared an old photo of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosting an Iftar party at his residence in 2009, which was attended by then Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan among others.

Poonawala said in his tweet, ‘2009- Then CJI KG Balakrishnan attended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Iftar party, this is secular. Judiciary is safe. Prime Minister Modi attended Ganesh Puja at the current CJI House, oh God, the judiciary has been compromised.’

Shehzad Poonawalla shared photos from India Today’s archives showing Manmohan Singh and then Congress president Sonia Gandhi welcoming several dignitaries. Political leaders such as then BJP chief LK Advani, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Lalu Prasad Yadav were present at the iftar event.

BJP raised questions on the opposition
Former Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan, former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were also present at the event. Earlier, the BJP had criticised opposition leaders who questioned PM Modi’s visit to the residence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and said it was limited to Ganpati puja celebrations and is ‘part of our culture’.

PM Modi shared photos
On Wednesday, PM Modi shared pictures from Chandrachud’s residence in Delhi. The Chief Justice and his wife Kalpana Das were seen welcoming the PM, who wore traditional Maharashtrian attire for the occasion. Opposition parties criticised PM Modi’s visit, saying that distance should be maintained between the current custodians of the legislature and the judiciary. They also suggested that this could raise doubts about judicial impartiality in the minds of people.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, ‘Our case of Maharashtra…is being heard before CJI Chandrachud, so we doubt whether we will get justice or not, because the Prime Minister is the other party in this case. The Chief Justice should keep himself away from this case, because his relationship with the other party in the case is openly visible. Will CJI Chandrachud be able to get us justice in such a situation?’

Top government sources told India Today that the CJI had sent invitations to several dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, for the Ganpati puja. Sources said PM Modi left immediately after the rituals and after taking the prasad. Sources said several other Supreme Court officials were also present at the event.