Former Supreme Court judge slams judiciary’s “disappointing” track record under Modi
In a scathing criticism, former Supreme Court Justice V Gopala Gowda slammed the Supreme Court for its “disappointing” trend of being “hesitant” in delivering fair judgment in politically-charged cases since ruling Hindu supremacist Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.
He also criticized the rise in power of Hindu supremacist groups, saying that India’s constitutional values are being threatened by “attempts to transform the democratic state into a Hindu fascist state.”
“The track record of the Supreme Court in the last 8 years is disappointing,” he said, speaking at an event organized by the All India Lawyers Union, Delhi Union of Journalists and Democratic Teachers Front.
“In 2014, the apex court was not hesitant in going against the central executive in matters involving high political stakes. But post 2014… when it comes to taking on the system, the Court acts hesitant.”
He further criticized the Court for presenting a “weaker self” by refusing to hear important matters, such as the 2019 revocation of Kashmir’s special autonomous status.
Gowda also slammed a 2019 Supreme Court verdict allowing the construction of a Hindu temple on the land where a Hindu supremacist mobs violently demolished the historic Babur Masjid in 1992. He warned that the ruling had emboldened Hindu supremacists to begin seeking the demolition of historic mosques across India.
“[This] judgment has made the right reactionary forces claim Gyanvapi mosque and other mosques in the country,” he said. “This is a great threat to the Republic of India, a multi-religious country.”
Malaysia’s Islamic body condemns ban on Indian Muslim group PFI
A Malaysian body of a Islamic organizations, Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations), has vehemently condemned the recent ban on the Indian Muslim group Popular Front of India (PFI) and demanded the immediate release of its leaders.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, president of the organization, demanded the immediate release of PFI leader E. Abubacker from prison, where he is suffering from cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
“The Delhi High Court’s refusal to grant him his request to transfer him to house arrest from Tihar Jail on account of his health condition is regretful. It is perplexing not to give the 70-year-old Muslim leader the right to medical treatment,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu supremacist government on September 27 banned the PFI, a prominent Muslim organization. Over 350 people have been arrested in dozens of raids by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a crackdown that has been slammed by civil rights groups and activists.
“We object strongly to the Indian authorities declaring the organizations as ‘unlawful associations,’” Hamid said.
“The accusation of terror funding claims against them are political and are denying their democratic rights to voice their concerns on the current developments of India relating to minority rights,” he added.
Officials to shut down mosque in Karnataka on Hindu supremacists’ demands
In yet another move to infringe on Muslims’ right to practice their faith, leaders of the ruling Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindu extremist groups like the Sri Ram Sena have warned of consequences if a newly-established mosque in Karnataka state’s Belagavi district is not shut down within a week.
The mosque is a former residential home, whose original owner had gifted the property to a charitable trust to be converted into a mosque.
However, after backlash from Hindu supremacist groups, officials have issued a notice falsely claiming that the building violates the license rules.
Exposing the true values of India’s ruling party, the demands to shut down the mosque were led by former BJP lawmaker Sanjay Patil, who organized a meeting to demand that the mosque be demolished.
