Quoting Nadda’s recent clarification, Sarma noted that the BJP chief had distanced the party from Dubey’s and MP Dinesh Sharma’s remarks, underlining that these were personal opinions and “not reflective of the party’s stance”.
After controversial remarks by BJP MPs against the Supreme Court, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit back at the Congress, accusing it of repeatedly undermining the judiciary over the years.
Responding to the row sparked by Godda MP Nishikant Dubey’s statements—remarks which prompted BJP chief JP Nadda to step in and clarify the party’s stance—Sarma claimed that the BJP has always stood firmly for judicial independence.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently upheld the independence and dignity of the judiciary as a cornerstone of India’s democracy,” he said in a post on X.
Quoting Nadda’s recent clarification, Sarma noted that the BJP chief had distanced the party from Dubey’s and MP Dinesh Sharma’s remarks, underlining that these were personal opinions and “not reflective of the party’s stance”.
“Nadda Ji emphasised that these were personal opinions and not reflective of the party’s stance, reiterating the BJP’s deep respect for judicial institutions,” Sarma said.
In contrast, Sarma accused the Congress of a pattern of undermining judicial credibility whenever verdicts didn’t favour their political positions. He listed examples where Congress publicly criticised prominent judges.
Among them, he cited the impeachment motion against former Chief Justice Dipak Misra, calling it “unprecedented” and “without substantial evidence”. He also mentioned how former Chief Justice and Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Gogoi faced intense criticism after delivering the Ayodhya verdict.
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Former SC judge Arun Mishra, Sarma said, was unfairly targeted for his judicial decisions and alleged closeness to the government, despite his adherence to constitutional duties.
Justice DY Chandrachud, too, faced “undue scrutiny”, he added, pointing to backlash over his verdicts in major cases.
Another name on Sarma’s list was Justice S Abdul Nazeer, who was criticised by Congress for being appointed Governor of Andhra Pradesh soon after his retirement from the apex court—an appointment the Opposition said threatened judicial independence.
“This pattern suggests a tendency within the Congress Party to challenge the judiciary’s credibility when decisions are unfavorable to their political narrative,” Sarma said.
“Respecting the judiciary shouldn’t be contingent upon the favorability of its decisions. Selective approbation erodes public trust and the foundational principles of our democracy,” he added.
Nishikant Dubey, whose comments caused the uproar, reposted Sarma’s tweet with an Urdu couplet by Fani Badayuni:
“Zindagi jabr hai jabr ke aasaar nahi, hai is qaid to zanzeer bhi darkar nahi”
(Translation: Life is a compulsion that doesn’t even need chains—perhaps alluding to the political constraints under which BJP distanced itself from his remarks.)
Dubey’s initial remarks came in response to a recent Supreme Court judgment in the Tamil Nadu case, where the court effectively imposed a deadline on the President and Governors to act on Bills passed by State legislatures.
“The Supreme Court is crossing its limits. If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut,” Dubey had said.
“How can you give direction to the appointing authority? The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. Parliament makes the law of this country. You will dictate Parliament?”
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma stated that “no one can challenge the President, as the President is supreme.”
To contain the controversy, BJP chief JP Nadda categorically distanced the party from these statements.
“These are their personal statements, but the BJP neither agrees with nor supports such statements. The BJP completely rejects these statements,” Nadda said.
He added that party leaders have been instructed not to make such statements in the future.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has hit back strongly.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reminded critics that Supreme Court judgments are binding and backed by the Constitution.
“You are tubelights, you are thumbs-up… You are threatening the courts? Article 142 of the Constitution was brought by BR Ambedkar. Ambedkar was more far-sighted than you,” he said.
Addressing the Prime Minister directly, Owaisi added, “Modi ji, if you do not stop these people who are threatening, the country will weaken and the country won’t forgive.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of targeting the judiciary as a reaction to uncomfortable judgments.
“Constitutional functionaries, ministers, BJP MPs are speaking against the Supreme Court… The Supreme Court is being targeted because in many issues, like electoral bonds, the Supreme Court has said that what has been done by the government is unconstitutional,” he said.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar had also weighed in earlier with criticism of the court’s direction to the President.
“We cannot have a situation where you direct the President of India and on what basis? The only right you have under the Constitution is to interpret the Constitution under Article 145(3)… Article 142 has become a nuclear missile against democratic forces, available to judiciary 24×7,” he had remarked.
