Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th September. The left-liberal faction in Bharatiya political discourse has once again found itself in a frenzy, this time over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence for Ganesh Puja on September 11th, 2023. As images and videos of PM Modi performing the Ganpati Aarti at CJI Chandrachud’s home circulated on social media, prominent voices within this ideological camp began decrying the event as a threat to the independence of the judiciary and a violation of the principle of separation of powers. Such allegations, however, seem not only far-fetched but indicative of a broader agenda where religious and cultural gestures are politicized to suit a narrative of “democracy in danger.”
The question that arises is simple: Is the outrage justified, or is it yet another case of the left-liberal ecosystem manufacturing controversy where none exists?
The Allegations of Compromised Judiciary
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Indira Jaising was quick to express her displeasure, claiming that PM Modi’s visit to the CJI’s residence compromised the separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive. Echoing this sentiment, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha, historian Irfan Habib, and journalists from left-leaning outlets like The Wire and Tribal Army asserted that the event raised questions about secularism, judicial impartiality, and the independence of the judiciary. These voices implied that by attending a religious event together, PM Modi and CJI Chandrachud somehow blurred the lines between their constitutional roles.
That is the state of the republic….ladies and gentlemen.
Jai Hind https://t.co/dH9XjQv4co— Manoj Kumar Jha (@manojkjhadu) September 11, 2024
People say the CJI is a great legal mind. He obviously has original views on separation of State & Church. All I can think about is the spectacle of two of our nation's most powerful men, while Manipur burns. Waiting for the enlightened to take suo moto notice of the rapes,… https://t.co/LquwlCGfuC
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) September 11, 2024
The question that follows from these critiques is whether a personal, religious visit truly compromises the judiciary’s independence or erodes the principle of separation of powers. The simple answer is no, and the evidence lies in Bharat’s long-standing tradition of social and religious interactions between leaders across political and institutional divides.
The Secularism Hypocrisy: Iftar Parties and Double Standards
What is striking in this controversy is the selective outrage expressed by these left-liberal voices. During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Iftar parties hosted by then-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence were attended by none other than CJI K.G. Balakrishnan. Yet, there was no similar outcry about a breach in secularism or judicial independence then. The absence of criticism in such cases highlights a double standard: while a Ganesh Puja attended by the Prime Minister is somehow a threat to democracy, Iftar parties hosted by the Prime Minister were celebrated as symbols of secularism.
This hypocrisy begs the question: Would the left-liberal outcry have been as loud if CJI Chandrachud were a Muslim, and he invited PM Modi to an Iftar party? The answer appears to be no. This selective outrage only serves to expose the ideological biases at play, where Hindu religious practices are seen as threats to secularism, but similar Muslim practices are lauded as demonstrations of Bharat’s pluralism.
Cultural Norms and Personal Interactions: Part of Bharatiya Traditions
Bharat is a land where cultural and religious traditions are deeply woven into the social fabric, and this is reflected in all spheres of public life, including politics, the judiciary, and civil service. Festivals such as Ganesh Puja, Diwali, and Eid bring together people from all walks of life, including those in high-ranking offices. Personal invitations and religious celebrations are viewed as cultural norms rather than political maneuvers, and to suggest that such interactions automatically compromise one’s professional independence is disingenuous.
The left-liberal ecosystem’s assumption that PM Modi’s visit to the CJI’s residence is inherently problematic undermines the social and cultural dimensions of Bharatiya life. In many instances, public figures—irrespective of their political affiliations—interact socially without compromising their professional autonomy. To imply otherwise is to reduce every personal or religious interaction to a political power play.
The Principle of Separation of Powers
Bharat’s democracy is built upon the separation of powers between the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary, a system that safeguards the independence of each institution. However, the principle does not imply that members of different branches of government must refrain from all social or cultural interaction. The Constitution ensures that personal relationships do not encroach upon professional duties, and judicial decisions are not determined by personal affiliations but by legal precedents and collective judgement.
PM Modi’s visit to CJI Chandrachud’s residence was a personal event, unrelated to the workings of the judiciary. The Supreme Court of India operates on a collective decision-making process, where verdicts are delivered by a bench of judges rather than any one individual. The notion that a single personal visit could compromise the entire judiciary’s independence is not just alarmist but entirely baseless. The judiciary remains a robust institution with checks and balances designed to prevent undue influence from any branch of government.
Judicial Precedents and Selective Criticism
The selective criticism aimed at CJI Chandrachud for inviting PM Modi to his residence seems particularly unwarranted when viewed in light of other instances where judges have openly expressed their political or ideological biases without similar pushback. For instance, former Justice Joseph Kurian openly advocated for the removal of the Supreme Court’s motto, “Yato Dharmastato Jaya” (Where there is Dharma, there is Victory), derived from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. His remarks, delivered at a left-liberal event, were met with applause rather than accusations of undermining secularism.
The Real Agenda Behind the Liberal Outcry
The outrage over PM Modi’s Ganesh Puja visit appears to be more of a manufactured controversy aimed at furthering an existing narrative rather than a genuine concern for democracy. The left-liberal ecosystem has, for years, constructed a narrative that positions the Modi government as a threat to Bharat’s democratic institutions. In this case, the personal and religious gesture of attending Ganesh Puja is being spun into a political controversy in order to bolster the oft-repeated claim that “democracy is in danger.”
However, the facts do not support this claim. There is no evidence that PM Modi’s visit to the CJI’s residence has had any impact on judicial rulings or the independence of the judiciary. The real concern lies not in this personal visit but in the left-liberal ecosystem’s tendency to politicize every action taken by the Prime Minister, especially those related to his Hindu identity, in order to fuel their broader ideological agenda.
Conclusion: A Manufactured Controversy Lacking Substance
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding PM Modi’s visit to CJI Chandrachud’s residence for Ganesh Puja is nothing more than a manufactured storm in a teacup. The outrage over a perceived threat to judicial independence and secularism is not supported by any concrete evidence. Rather, it reflects an ideological bias against PM Modi and his government, particularly when it comes to matters of religion and culture. Bharat’s democracy and judiciary remain strong and independent, safeguarded by a robust system of checks and balances. The left-liberal meltdown is merely an attempt to further a narrative that has little basis in reality.
The controversy is emblematic of the left-liberal ecosystem’s tendency to overreach in its criticism of PM Modi, using every opportunity—whether a personal visit, religious gesture, or political decision—to stoke fears of democratic collapse. The focus should instead be on addressing genuine concerns and strengthening democratic institutions, rather than engaging in sensationalism and divisive politics.
The post Judicial Independence Unaffected: Left-Liberal Fearmongering Over PM Modi’s Religious Gesture appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
