The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi after the Supreme Court (SC) rejected pleas to probe the death of judge BH Loya on Thursday, 19 April.
The BJP slammed the opposition Congress, alleging that Rahul Gandhi had an “invisible” hand behind the petitions that tried to use the judiciary to malign the image of Amit Shah.
The Supreme Court, on 19 April, ruled that judge Loya died of natural causes and that the petitions attempted to obstruct the course of justice.
Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that Rahul Gandhi should be “ashamed” of conspiring against BJP President Amit Shah, and the Indian judiciary and democracy.
Demanding an apology from the Gandhi scion, he said, “Rahul Gandhi should come and apologise to Amit Shah, the apex court and the the country.”
Patra then went on to say that the Congress engages in all sorts of conspiracies after its family loses power, he alleged that Congress made an attempt to use the judiciary for political purposes and hit a "new low" in Indian politics.
The invisible hand that the Supreme Court is taking about that has filed this petition to settle political score is that of Rahul Gandhi and Congress.Sambit Patra, spokesperson, BJP
Sad Day in India’s History: Congress
Meanwhile, the Congress party addressed a press conference of its own, deeming the apex court’s verdict as a ‘sad day in India’s history’.
Addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that despite there having been ‘discrepancies’ in Loya’s post-mortem report, the SC’s decision to not announce a probe has left many questions unanswered.
Stating that Congress was committed to the cause of an independent inquiry, Surjewala said:
Congress is committed to people’s demand for fair probe into circumstances surrounding judge Loya’s death.
Surjewala also attacked the BJP for targeting the opposition over the verdict.
BJP’s attempts to misinterpret SC judgment to attack Congress reflects its jitteriness. We reject and condemn malicious attempts of BJP to misinterpret SC judgment.
The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year, after media reports quoting his sister fueled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case, which he was hearing before he died.
Shah was an accused in the case but was later discharged. Several activists and opposition parties had alleged a foul play in Loya’s death.
While dismissing the plea for an independent probe, the top court on 19 April, said that with these petitions it becomes clear that a real attempt and a frontal attack was made on the independence of the judiciary.
The apex court said frivolous and motivated litigation has been filed to settle political rivalry.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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