BJP Shares Old Indira Gandhi Clip to Target Congress Amid Row Over SC Remarks
In the midst of political backlash over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks on the Supreme Court, the BJP shared an old video of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi questioning judicial intervention.
The move was aimed at countering the Congress’s criticism of Dubey’s controversial comments on the judiciary.
BJP Revives Indira Gandhi’s Judicial Comments
The BJP posted a video from the past in which Indira Gandhi questions the role of the judiciary in political matters.
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared the video on X, captioning it, “Indira Gandhi — the Congress must know its own past”.
In the clip, the former PM is seen questioning the relevance of democracy if judges were to interpret and assess political and economic situations.
“How does Mr. Shah know what is happening in the political world? What are the forces at work which want to destroy a developing economy? Is a judge competent to decide that? Then why have democracy? Why have elections? Why have political people in power?” Gandhi is heard saying in the video.
The “Mr. Shah” referred to in her remarks is former Chief Justice of India, Jayantilal Chotilal Shah, who led the Shah Commission formed to investigate the Emergency-era excesses.
Background of the Shah Commission
Set up in 1977 by the Janata Party government, the Shah Commission was tasked with probing allegations of power misuse and legal subversion during the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi.
The report criticized the centralization of power and exposed alleged curtailment of civil liberties, including censorship, police action, and forced sterilization campaigns.
BJP Counters Congress Over Dubey’s Remarks
The BJP’s sharing of Indira Gandhi’s video came as a counter to the Congress’s reaction to remarks made by Nishikant Dubey, who criticised the Supreme Court for its recent actions.
The controversy began when Dubey commented that if the Supreme Court were to act like a law-making body, then Parliament should be closed down.
Targeting Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Dubey went on to say that the CJI was responsible for “all civil wars in the country.”
He reiterated his views in a video posted on X, where he referred to recent violence in West Bengal and connected it with judicial overreach.
Dubey Questions Court Orders
Dubey’s comments followed the Supreme Court’s intervention in the Waqf (Amendment) Act and its direction to the President to act within a specific timeline on Bills passed for a second time by the legislature.
He asked, “How can you give direction to the appointing authority? The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. You will dictate that Parliament? You want to take this country towards anarchy.”
Congress Hits Back
In response, senior Congress leader and advocate Salman Khurshid expressed concern over Dubey’s statements.
“It is a matter of great sadness if an MP questions the Supreme Court or any court. In our legal system, the final word is not of the government, it is of the Supreme Court. If someone does not understand this, then it is a matter of great sadness,” he said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also criticised the remarks, accusing Dubey and the BJP of undermining the judiciary.
He stated, “They are trying to weaken the Supreme Court. Constitutional functionaries, ministers, and BJP MPs are speaking against the Supreme Court as the Supreme Court is saying one thing — when a law is made, you should not go against the basic structure of the constitution and if the law is against the constitution, we will not accept it.”
BJP Distances Itself from Dubey
Amid the uproar, the BJP distanced itself from the MP’s remarks. The party clarified that Dubey had made the statements in his personal capacity and they did not reflect the party’s position. BJP sources confirmed that the party neither endorses nor supports such views.
Political Tempers Flare
As the debate over the judiciary’s role intensifies, the BJP’s revival of a decades-old video of Indira Gandhi has reignited historical parallels and political sparring.
While the party uses the video to expose the Congress’s past approach to judicial checks, the opposition continues to question the BJP’s stance on constitutional institutions.
