SP Leader's Objectionable Remarks Against CJI Chandrachud Sparks Row, He Later Clarifies

New Delhi: A political row has erupted over Chief Justice of India (CJI)  DY Chandrachud's statement related to Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. Earlier on Sunday, CJI DY Chandrachud said he had prayed to God for a solution to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute and asserted God will find a way if one has faith.

His remarks are seemed to have not gone down well with Opposition parties as many leader, including from Congress , criticised the CJI.

CJI Chandrachud's remarks came as he reflected on the handling of the decades-old Ayodhya dispute.

"Very often we have cases (to adjudicate) but we don't arrive at a solution. Something similar happened during the Ayodhya (Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute) which was in front of me for three months. I sat before the deity and told him he needs to find a solution," he said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav made inappropriate statement when asked about CJI's Remarks, triggerring a controversy.  Reacting to CJI remarks, Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, "When you bring the dead back to life, they turn into ghosts and haunt the public. Many people talk like this, should I take notice of them"

However, after drawing flak, Yadav backtracked, claiming that nobody had asked him anything about the Chief Justice.

'If He Had Prayed...': Congress Targets CJI

Taking a jibe at the CJI, Congress leader Udit Raj reacted sharply and questioned the credibility of judicial system of the county and alleged misuse of central probe agencies.

A former MP, Udit Raj remarked that had the Chief Justice prayed for other issues as well, those matters could have also been resolved, bringing justice to common people.

In a post on X, he tweeted, "Chief Justice Chandrachud ji said that he had prayed to God for the solution of the Ayodhya issue. If he had prayed for some other issues, they would have also been resolved like a common man could get justice from the High Court and Supreme Court without money".

BJP Slams Congress

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawala slammed Congress's Udit Raj over his remarks, saying the grand old party appreciates the institution only when the judgement is in their favour. He also slammed the Congress for raising questions over EVM and Election Commission.

He said that "Congress prioritises 'parivarvad' over democracy.

In a landmark judgement on November 9, 2019, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi settled a fractious issue that went back more than a century. The bench had ruled that a mosque will come up on an alternative five-acre plot in Ayodhya itself.

Remarkably, CJI Chandrachud was part of the bench that delivered the historic verdict, paving the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Incidentally, the CJI had visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in July this year and offered prayers.

The Ram Mandir Pranpratishtha ceremony was held on January 22 this year in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, the grand event didn't find support among Congressmen.