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The video dates back to Indira Gandhi’s response to the Shah Commission, set up in 1977 to probe the excesses during the Emergency.
BJP leader Amit Malviya and former PM Indira Gandhi | File Image
Amid the political row over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s recent criticism of the Supreme Court, the saffron party on Monday shared a decades-old video of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi questioning the Indian judiciary system.
Last week, Dubey stirred a controversy by saying that if the Supreme Court continues to act like a legislative body, then parliament should not exist in the country. The comment triggered criticism from the opposition, with the BJP distancing itself from the comments.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted a clip from an interview on X, saying: “Indira Gandhi — the Congress must know its own past”. In the video, Gandhi could be heard questioning a top court judge’s competence to assess political dynamics and economic threats.
“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? 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?” said Indira Gandhi in the video shared by the BJP leader.
The video dates back to Indira Gandhi’s response to the Shah Commission, set up in 1977 to probe the excesses during the Emergency. Headed by Justice JC Shah, the commission had criticised the concentration of power under her leadership and investigated issues like censorship, police brutality, and forced sterilisation drives.
Dubey on Saturday made a strong remark on the apex court’s hearing of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, saying: “If the Supreme Court makes the law then the Parliament House should be closed.” The remark triggered heated reactions from the opposition parties.
Dubey also posted his ANI video clip on X in which, while responding to a question on the Waqf law and the recent violence in West Bengal, he said: “Iss desh mein jitne grih yuddha ho rahe hain unke zimmedar kewal yahaan ke Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna Sahab hain (CJI Sanjiv Khanna is responsible for all civil wars in this country).”
He also questioned the top court’s recent order that effectively set a deadline for the President and Governors to clear Bills passed by the legislature for the second time.
“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,” Dubey said in a statement.
Congress Attacks BJP
Reacting to BJP MP’s remarks on the Supreme Court, advocate and Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, “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.”
Another Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, also trained guns at Dubey, accusing the leader and the BJP of trying to weaken India’s top court.
“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,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP distanced itself from Dubey’s remarks, stating that they were made in the MP’s personal capacity and the party neither agrees nor does it ever support such statements.
