BJP vs Supreme Court: Verbal duel sparks political firestorm in India

Opposition parties launch counteroffensive as BJP leaders assail top court

THE WORLDVIEW

April 21, 2025

AMID a series of verdicts unfavourable to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government, senior BJP figures have launched verbal attacks on the Supreme Court of India — moves that appear to be aimed at intimidating the judiciary. However, opposition parties have come to the court’s defence, launching a counteroffensive that has put the BJP somewhat on the defensive.

The controversy erupted when BJP Members of Parliament Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma criticised the Supreme Court. Their comments drew sharp condemnation from opposition parties, notably the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

Responding to the BJP leaders’ remarks, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must intervene to prevent threats against the judiciary. "A Supreme Court judgement is the law," he asserted.

"You’re like tubelights, like Thums Up… and now you’re threatening the courts? Article 142 of the Constitution, which grants special powers to the Supreme Court, was introduced by B.R. Ambedkar. He had greater foresight than you," said Mr Owaisi, a barrister trained at Lincoln’s Inn in London.

Directly addressing the prime minister, he added: "Your people have become so radicalised that they are now threatening the courts. Modi-ji, if you do not stop these individuals, the country will be weakened, and the nation will not forgive you."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused BJP leaders of attempting to undermine the judiciary. "Constitutional functionaries, ministers, and BJP MPs are speaking out against the Supreme Court. The court has rightly emphasised that any law passed must adhere to the basic structure of the Constitution," he said.

"The Supreme Court is being targeted because it has declared several government actions, including the controversial electoral bonds, unconstitutional."

The criticism from some BJP leaders follows a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court that effectively imposed a three-month deadline for the president and state governors to assent to Bills passed a second time by legislatures. Further, the attacks have also come after an interim order on the newly promulgated Waqf Act, which stayed certain contentious clauses.

Speaking to news agency ANI, MP Nishikant Dubey had said that parliament should be dissolved if the Supreme Court continues to take all major decisions. "The court has only one principle: ‘Show me the face, and I’ll show you the law’. The Supreme Court is exceeding its jurisdiction. If everything must go to the court, then what is the point of having parliament and state assemblies?

"When it’s about the Ram Mandir, Krishna Janmabhoomi, or Gyanvapi, the court asks to see documentation. But for mosques built after the Mughals, it asks how one can show documents? The court is inciting communal conflict in this country. It’s crossing all limits."

Mr Dubey also questioned how the Supreme Court could impose deadlines on the president and governors. "How can it issue directives to appointing authorities? The president appoints the Chief Justice of India. Parliament enacts the laws. Will the court now dictate parliament?"

BJP leader Dinesh Sharma echoed similar sentiments, asserting that no one could "challenge" the president, who he claimed is "supreme".

BJP distances itself from remarks

The BJP leadership distanced itself from the remarks made by its MPs. Both Mr Dubey and Mr Sharma have been cautioned against making such statements in the future.

BJP president J.P. Nadda took to social media platform X to clarify the party’s stance: "The Bharatiya Janata Party disassociates itself from the comments made by Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma regarding the judiciary and the Chief Justice. These are their personal opinions, and the BJP neither agrees with nor supports them. We categorically reject these statements."

He added that both the MPs — and others within the party — have been formally instructed not to make such remarks again.