Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on April 3 accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of making a “childish attempt” to put pressure on the judiciary by taking a group of leaders and aides while filing his appeal to stay his conviction by a Surat court in a defamation case.
Rejecting the charge, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party stood in solidarity and support of Mr. Gandhi and didn’t carry out any show of strength.
His party colleagues, Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh and Lok Sabha member Manickam Tagore, slammed the Law Minister and pointed out that Mr. Rijiju had called a section of the judiciary “anti-national”.
‘Childish attempt’: Rijiju
“Generally, no convict goes personally. His going personally with a motley group of leaders and aides accompanying him is only a drama. What Rahul Gandhi is doing is also a childish attempt to bring pressure on the appellate court. All courts in the country are immune from such tactics,” tweeted the Law Minister, underscoring the point that Mr. Gandhi didn’t have to appear in person to file the appeal.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Mr. Rijiju said, “This is not the first time when a politician has been convicted. When former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was convicted, did the Congress put such pressure? Never. Even P. Chidambaram didn’t get this kind of support. My point is very simple, why the Congress party is trying to put this kind of undue pressure on the judiciary? There are means and ways to deal with judicial matters. But is this the way?”
‘Standing in solidarity’: Kharge
Responding to this, Mr. Kharge told reporters, “This is not a show of strength. He [Mr. Gandhi] is our leader and our people are standing in solidarity with him. Even in a small case, family members join and go to court. Here, it is about an entire party and he [Mr. Gandhi] is fighting for the country”.
“The failed Law Minister who threatens Hon’ble Judges as Anti Nationals must not get confused with the Reception to Our leader with Threats. Grow up Mr. Law Minister,” tweeted Mr. Tagore.
Commenting on Mr. Rijiju’s tweet, Mr. Ramesh said, “The man who threatens the judiciary, judges and ex-judges daily and also distorts history daily is talking. Hypocrisy ki koi seema nahin hai Modi Kaal mein (There is no limit to hypocracy in Modi’s rule)”.
