‘Openly denigrate…’: Mahua Moitra after Rijiju's view on SC, BBC's Modi series

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Monday trained her guns at Union law minister Kiren Rijiju for backing the view of a retired high court judge that the Supreme Court “hijacked” the Constitution by deciding to appoint judges itself. The TMC leader said the law minister himself is openly denigrating Supreme Court while questioning others for believing in the BBC version over the apex court judgement in the Gujarat riots.

“BJP’s hypocrisy: It is perfectly ok for Law Minister to openly denigrate Supreme Court everyday, back ex- judge who says court hijacked constitution. But citizens watching a BBC show are accused of disrespecting SC!" Moitra said in a tweet.

She added that nobody was saying BBC's version is gospel truth but the Union government's "raging censorship actions are unacceptable."

On Sunday, Rijiju backed the view of justice RS Sodhi, a former judge of the Delhi high court, who said that the Supreme Court “hijacked” the Constitution by deciding to appoint judges itself. Sharing a video clip of an interview of justice RS Sodhi, the minister that it was the “voice of a judge” and that the majority of the people had similar “sane views”.

The law minister said, “Actually majority of the people have similar sane views. It’s only those people who disregard the provisions of the Constitution and mandate of the people think that they are above the Constitution of India.”

“Real beauty of Indian Democracy is its success. People rule themselves through their representatives. Elected representatives represent the interests of the People & make laws. Our Judiciary is independent and our Constitution is Supreme,” the minister tweeted.

His remarks came against the backdrop of the government and the judiciary being at loggerheads over the process of appointment of judges to the higher judiciary,

Rijiju also slammed the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying India's image cannot be disgraced with "malicious campaigns".

"Some people in India have still not gotten over the colonial hangover. They consider BBC above the Supreme Court of India and lower the country's dignity and image to any extent to please their moral masters," Rijiju said.

They consider BBC above the Supreme Court of India and lower the country's dignity and image to any extent to please their moral masters," he added.