Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud for Ganpati puja, responding sharply to the criticism that has surfaced regarding the event. Fadnavis labeled the backlash as indicative of “growing hatred and prejudice against Hindu festivals.”
Fadnavis questioned the uproar, remarking, “The reaction from rivals is so aggressive. It is as if the sky has fallen. It makes one wonder, why should the PM’s visit to the CJI residence to participate in the Ganesh festival evoke such sharp reactions? Is it because it is a Hindu festival?” His remarks aimed to highlight what he sees as bias against Hindu celebrations, asserting that the criticism was “unfounded and baseless.”
The controversy began after leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, raised questions about the proximity between PM Modi and CJI Chandrachud. Raut, in particular, expressed concerns about whether the Uddhav Thackeray faction would receive impartial justice in the Supreme Court following the visit.
In response, Fadnavis dismissed these claims, arguing that they cast unwarranted aspersions on both the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. “Casting such baseless aspersions on the highest court sets a dangerous precedent,” Fadnavis remarked, defending the integrity of both institutions.
To further underscore his point, Fadnavis cited an instance from the past, recalling an iftar party hosted by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the Congress regime. He noted that the then CJI K G Balakrishnan attended the event, and no objections were raised. “Yet, nobody raised any objection because it was an iftar party. Now, the only difference is it is a Ganesh festival,” Fadnavis said. He argued that this comparison highlights the growing bias against Hindu festivals.
Additionally, Fadnavis pointed out that CJI Chandrachud hails from Maharashtra, a state where the Ganesh festival is deeply rooted in tradition. The CJI reportedly celebrates the festival every year with an idol crafted by a local artisan.
On Wednesday night, PM Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his participation in the Ganpati puja, saying, “Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji. May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity, and wonderful health.”
As the controversy continues to brew, the BJP and its allies are pushing back against what they see as an unjustified attack on the Prime Minister’s religious participation. Whether this controversy will die down or intensify remains to be seen, but the debate has once again stirred political tensions.