Sanjay Raut hits out at CJI for refusing to meet INDIA bloc leaders

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised CJI Surya Kant for refusing to meet an INDIA bloc delegation led by Rahul Gandhi. The opposition planned to protest electoral issues and demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, calling the snub a blow to democracy.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut hit out at the judiciary, saying that people will remember everything after the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Surya Kant, refused to meet opposition leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

INDIA Bloc Protests Against CEC, CJI's Snub

Speaking to ANI, Raut said, "We have come today as the INDIA bloc is organising a major march towards the Supreme Court to meet the Chief Justice. We had requested an appointment... The Chief Justice, whose role is to safeguard the Constitution, is unwilling to meet us... When we are seeking to save democracy amidst the theft of votes and electoral fraud, and the deletion of millions of names from the rolls and wish to meet you to voice our grievance, you say you will not meet politicians. The people will remember this." INDIA bloc will march to the Supreme Court today in protest against the Chief Election Comissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who refuses to resign from his post despite tremendous opposition against him.

Raut further detailed the frustration of the opposition alliance, noting that initial signs had suggested a different outcome. "The 'INDIA' alliance is going to the Supreme Court. Rahul Gandhi had requested a meeting with the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant. Initially, it was stated that the Chief Justice would meet within four to five days. Suddenly, last night, it was stated that the leaders of the opposition—the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha—had requested a meeting, but there was no right to meet, or that political leaders have no right to meet," Raut told reporters.

'All Doors Have Been Closed': Raut on State of Democracy

The Rajya Sabha MP argued that such a refusal by the head of the judiciary is a severe blow to those fighting against perceived autocratic trends. "This kind of stance, when taken by the Chief Justice of India, is a blow to the millions of citizens in this country who are fighting against autocracy and fighting for the protection of democracy. All doors have been closed. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have installed their own people in every constitutional institution. As a final resort, when we tried to visit the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of India closed the doors. This is a misfortune for the constitution and democracy of this country."

Raut raised a poignant question regarding the path left for the common citizen when constitutional safeguards appear inaccessible. "Our Chief Justice says that he does not have the right to meet political leaders. If the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is going to disrespect the vote—the people’s mandate—then who should the people of this country turn to?"

Opposition Vows to Intensify Agitation

Echoing similar concerns, Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Santosh Kumar emphasised that the opposition’s agitation would only intensify in the coming days despite the government's crackdown. "SIR (Special Intensive Revision) and vote theft are very serious issues, and democracy is under threat. So, the India bloc parties are in an agitation, and it is continuing. We had several protests. A protest march to the Election Commission of India, and we met the honourable President of India. And we decided to meet the honourable Chief Justice of our country, but unfortunately, he declined," he said.

"But we will continue our protests. And today, there is a meeting of India Alliance MPs and leaders, so we will chalk out a further action plan in that meeting. And in the coming days, the demand of Gyanesh Kumar will intensify—I mean, our resignation [demand] will intensify. All India parties are united, and more and more youth and student organizations are also joining. Even though Delhi has become a military zone, we will continue our agitation with full capacity in the coming days also," added the Left Rajya Sabha member from Kerala. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)