Congress accuses the government of doing ‘petty politics' over the motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma

The Hindu

2 days ago

The Congress on Saturday (July 26, 2025) accused the haratiya Janata Party of doing 'petty politics', unbothered about Constitutional principles, referring to reports which claimed that the Opposition-backed notice in the Rajya Sabha for removal of Justice Yashwant Varma had only been submitted but not admitted in the Upper House.
The Congress attack on the Narendra Modi government came a day after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that there shouldn't remain any doubt and that the proceedings would begin in the Lok Sabha.
In the Lok Sabha, the government secured the signatures of 152 MPs across the political spectrum to move a notice against Justice Varma – who faces allegations of corruption after wads of half-burnt currency notes were discovered at his official residence in Delhi on March 14 – while in the Rajya Sabha, 63 Opposition members had moved the notice.
Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Singhvi quoted former Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's July 21 statement in the House to argue that the notice, signed by 63 Opposition members, had been admitted by the Chair.
Mr. Singhvi further argued that the former Chairman's comments had made it clear that only a statutory committee of inquiry, under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, had to be formed after consulting with the Lok Sabha Speaker since an identical motion for the removal of the judge was submitted in the Lower House.
'Dhankhar's a political exit'
'If the motion [in the Rajya Sabha] has not been admitted, then was a shadow boxing going on or a drama was going on?' the Congress leader asked.
He asked if the BJP believed in 'one nation one party approach' since it doesn't want to acknowledge the Opposition notice and claimed that Mr. Dhankhar's departure was a 'political exit camouflaged as a constitutional lie'.
Mr. Singhvi also accused the BJP of adopting double standards in its approach to judicial matters, particularly regarding Justice Varma as well as Justice Shekhar Yadav against whom the Opposition had moved a notice for removal for allegedly making communal remarks.
'We are also very concerned about this selective outrage and selective silence on Justice Varma, Justice Yadav — two judges' issues. This is typical BJP's double standard. The BJP's game of motions is less about law and more about optics... On judicial propriety, on anti-corruption movement and on judicial accountability, the BJP's mantra is talk the talk, never walk the walk. It is the worst example of hypocrisy on this entire episode,' he said.