A political controversy has emerged following Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s comments regarding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. On Sunday, CJI Chandrachud stated that he had prayed for a resolution to the matter, expressing confidence that “God will find a way” for those who have faith.
His remarks have not been well received by Opposition parties, with several leaders, including those from Congress, criticizing the CJI.
CJI Chandrachud’s comments came as he reflected on the management of the decades-long 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 sparked controversy with an inappropriate comment regarding the CJI’s remarks. In response, he stated, “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 facing backlash, Yadav backtracked, asserting that no one had asked him about the Chief Justice’s remarks.
In a sharp response to the CJI, Congress leader Udit Raj criticized the credibility of the country’s judicial system and alleged the misuse of central investigative agencies.
Former MP Udit Raj commented that if the Chief Justice had prayed for other issues as well, those matters might also have been resolved, thereby delivering justice to ordinary citizens.
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 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 stated that “Congress prioritizes dynastic politics over democracy.”
In a landmark ruling on November 9, 2019, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, resolved a contentious issue that had persisted for over a century. The bench determined that a mosque would be built on an alternative five-acre site within Ayodhya.
Notably, CJI Chandrachud was a member of the bench that issued the landmark verdict allowing for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Additionally, he visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in July of this year to offer prayers.
The Ram Mandir Pranpratishtha ceremony took place on January 22 of this year, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, the significant event did not receive backing from Congress members.
