Row over PM Modi attending Ganpati puja celebrations at CJI Chandrachud's residence; BJP slams opposition

New Delhi: Pictures of PM Narendra Modi celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at the residence of CJI DY Chandrachud Singh have kicked up a row with several Opposition leaders calling it inappropriate. In response, the BJP said that the Opposition has a problem with Hindu festivals.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that after the meeting, the CJI should recuse himself from the case between the two sections of the Shiv Sena — the Uddhav Thackeray faction and the Eknath Shinde faction.

“How many people's houses has the Prime Minister visited (for Ganesh Chaturthi) so far? Ganesh festival is celebrated in many places in Delhi, but the Prime Minister went to the Chief Justice's house, and they performed the Aarti together. Our knowledge of God is such that if the custodians of the Constitution meet political leaders in this manner, then people have doubts,” Raut said.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP suggested that Chandrachud should proceed with the hearing in the case. “After the festivities are over hopefully CJI will deem fit and be slightly freer to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard of Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra,” Chaturvedi said.

The BJP, in response, posted pictures of them prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh hosting then CJI KG Balakrishnan for an Iftaar party. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala posted pictures from the function that took place in 2009.

“2009- PM Manmohan Singh's Iftar Party was attended by then CJI KG Balakrishnan- Sshhhh - Yeh Secular hai.. judiciary is safe. PM Modi attends Ganesh Puja at current CJI House - oh God Judiciary compromised (sic),” Poonawalla said in a post on X. Among the attendees were LK Advani, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sitaram Yechury, who passed away on Thursday.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said that the Congress and the “communist ecosystem” have criticised the move but said silent when the Iftaar took place.

“The same suspects held it as an epitome of secularism when Dr Manmohan Singh hosted Iftar parties and then CJI would attend. Their problem is not the civility and cordiality between the Prime Minister and the CJI, alone, but Ganesh Chaturthi,” he posted, adding that the problem is not with the meeting but with Hindu festivals.