TN CPI comes out against President's SC reference, calls it unconstitutional
Chennai: Communist Party of India (CPI) Tamil Nadu state secretary R. Mutharasan has strongly criticised President Droupadi Murmu's recent move to refer a set of questions to the Supreme Court regarding the deadline for Governors and the President to decide on Bills passed by state legislatures.
He termed the action 'unconstitutional' and 'detrimental to the federal spirit' of the country.
Mutharasan said that the Tamil Nadu government had already fought a legal battle in the Supreme Court against the delay in the assent of Bills by the Governor. He pointed out that the Supreme Court had, in its judgment, laid down clear guidelines on timeframes for constitutional authorities like Governors and the President to act on such Bills.
'Based on the Tamil Nadu government's petition, the Supreme Court pronounced a historic judgment setting deadlines for decision-making on state legislation. The verdict was welcomed across the nation as a significant step toward preserving democratic governance. It is, therefore, surprising and inexplicable that the President has now referred 14 questions to the apex court seeking clarity on the same issue,' he said.
Mutharasan alleged that the move was politically motivated and influenced by the Union government.
'It is evident that the Union government is guiding the President to make this reference, which directly undermines the Supreme Court's authority and disrupts the federal balance,' he said.
Calling the act a clear violation of the Constitution, Mutharasan warned that it could set a dangerous precedent. He urged all democratic forces across the country to unite and oppose such actions.
'This is not just a legal or political issue - it is a threat to our constitutional democracy. People's movements must be built to resist such attempts that weaken the rights of state governments and the voice of the people,' he added.
Mutharasan's remarks come amid growing criticism from opposition parties over the Centre's alleged attempts to centralise power through gubernatorial offices.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
18 minutes ago
- Economic Times
‘We don't have money and neither does Siddaramaiah': Karnataka Home Minister's joke triggers political storm
Agencies Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara What started as a light-hearted remark at a local public function has ballooned into a full-blown controversy for the Karnataka government. Home Minister G Parameshwara, speaking at the inauguration of a fire station in Badami on Monday, made an offhand joke that has now gone viral and stirred political mudslinging. During his address, he encouraged Congress MLA BB Chimmankatti to think ambitiously for the region's development—once the heart of the Chalukya dynasty. 'Draft a plan worth Rs 1,000 crore for the development of Badami assembly constituency and send it to the Union government. We don't have money, and neither does Siddaramaiah,' Parameshwara said. The crowd burst into laughter, but not everyone found it one sentence, delivered with a smile, has now become a lightning rod for didn't stop there. To drive the humour home, he added, 'After providing rice, lentils, and oil, the funds are depleted,' before gesturing towards Excise Minister RB Timmapur and saying, 'The 'enne' (liquor or excise) minister is right here.' That remark, too, drew chuckles at the event. But what was laughed off at the venue quickly turned into a political weapon online. The viral clip has dominated regional news, with opposition parties questioning whether the Congress-led state government is financially sound enough to deliver on its intense scrutiny, Parameshwara addressed the media on Tuesday to clarify his comments. 'I have not said like that, who said there is no money?' he said. 'I have defended the government, saying we have presented a record budget… as someone said things jokingly during the speech, I reacted in a similar fashion, that's all.'The minister insisted that the state is on firm fiscal ground. 'A sum of Rs 22,000 crore has been allocated for irrigation in the budget. Allocations have been made for the five guarantee schemes, and instructions have been made to prepare an action plan for Rs 50 crore in every constituency.'He added, 'I'm now saying officially that there is no financial distress in our government. I'm saying it very clearly. Sometimes, there may be a delay in the release of funds, as DPR and estimates have to be prepared before releasing money. There may be some delay in that; other than that, there is nothing else.'Despite the home minister's assurance, his now-infamous line—'We don't have the money, and neither does Siddaramaiah'—continues to echo across political has handed opposition parties an easy talking point as they raise doubts over the state's ability to fund its much-publicised welfare include key programmes promised by the Congress government, such as monthly cash transfers to women heads of households, free electricity, and guarantees of essential grains and food items to below-poverty-line the minister's defence may satisfy party loyalists, the incident has exposed how quickly political humour can backfire—especially when public welfare and fiscal management are under the the people of Karnataka, what matters most is whether development goals and social safety nets continue uninterrupted. The government has its task cut out: to reassure both the electorate and critics that behind the smiles, the budget figures still add up.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Air India tragedy: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's ashes immersed at Somnath Triveni Sangam
NEW DELHI: The ashes of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani , who was among the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash, were immersed at the sacred Triveni Sangam in Somnath on Tuesday, in accordance with Hindu rituals. Rupani's wife, Anjali Rupani, and son, Rushabh Rupani, performed the rituals at Triveni Sangam. The ritual marked the completion of the final journey of the BJP veteran, who passed away recently. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat paid tribute on Tuesday to former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who tragically lost his life in the Air India AI-171 plane crash on June 12. "In the Air India plane crash, our very dear senior BJP leader and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani lost his life. In this unfortunate incident, along with Vijay Bhai, approximately 280 people have lost their lives, and we, the party, their families, and all the people of the country, express our condolences. May God grant peace to their souls," Gajendra said. Rupani's last rites were conducted with full state honours in Rajkot on June 16. His mortal remains were taken in a solemn funeral procession through the city, culminating at the Ramnathpara crematorium. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo As a mark of respect, the state police accorded him a guard of honour and a 21-gun salute. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat, and chief minister Bhupendra Patel were among several dignitaries who paid their final respects to the late leader. Vijay Rupani was among the 241 victims of the ill-fated AI-171 Boeing 787 flight, which was en route to London's Gatwick Airport when it crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12.
The Print
32 minutes ago
- The Print
Control, fear, and division—Congress hasn't changed even 50 years after Emergency
Journalist Coomi Kapoor, in her detailed account titled The Emergency: A Personal History , wrote that more people were jailed during those 21 months than during the entire Quit India Movement in 1942. This single line tells you how deep the betrayal ran. That night, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a nationwide Emergency. With one signature, the Constitution was rendered powerless, civil liberties vanished, and the world's largest democracy slipped into darkness. Over the next 21 months, India became unrecognisable. Parliament was silenced, the courts stood helpless, the press lost its voice, and the people lost their rights. It was on the night of 25 June 1975 that India's democracy was quietly smothered under the weight of fear and tyranny. Not by an invading army. Not by a colonial power. But by our own elected government. A government led by the Congress party, the same party that claims it gave India its freedom. The party that once chanted slogans of freedom jailed its own citizens for demanding it. Courtroom verdict that shook a PM The seeds of the Emergency were sown in a courtroom. In the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, Indira Gandhi secured a massive win from Rae Bareli. But her victory was contested by Raj Narain, a socialist leader, who accused her of electoral fraud. On 12 June 1975, the Allahabad High Court found her guilty and declared her election void. The verdict disqualified her from holding office for six years. Her political legitimacy stood shattered. And rather than stepping down, she chose to strike at the very roots of democracy. Gandhi advised then-President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to declare an Emergency. The order was signed in haste on the night of 25 June. The people of India went to sleep in a free country and woke up in a dictatorship. Also read: JP wasn't a saviour of Constitution. He called Mao his guru India in chains What followed was one of the darkest periods in our republic's history. Opposition leaders were thrown into jail. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Morarji Desai, Jayaprakash Narayan – all were imprisoned under harsh laws like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). The press was brought to its knees through censorship. Some newspapers, like The Indian Express, left editorial pages blank in protest. Students were hunted, citizens were watched, and those who spoke were put behind bars. The infamous forced sterilisation drive robbed countless people of dignity and choice. Even those within Congress who raised their voices paid the price. Leaders like S Jaipal Reddy in Andhra Pradesh and then-Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi were targeted for daring to oppose the Emergency. Government figures reported over one lakh detainees under the MISA and Defence of India Rules (DIR). It was not just politics that suffered. India's soul was under arrest. The people answer back Despite the repression, the people did not forget. And when given the chance, they responded with courage. On 21 March 1977, the Emergency was lifted. In the elections that followed, the Congress faced the full force of public anger. The Janata Party coalition swept to power. Indira Gandhi lost her seat in Rae Bareli to Raj Narain, the very man whose challenge had triggered the crisis. Congress was wiped out in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. For the first time, Indians realised that change was possible. That a Congress-free India was not a dream, but a choice. Has the Congress changed? The short answer is no. The same mindset that led to the Emergency still lingers in the Congress party today. It still believes in power without accountability. It still believes that only one family has the right to lead. Time and again, it has sidelined deserving leaders in favour of dynastic loyalty. Time and again, it has sidelined capable leaders in favour of dynastic loyalty. A telling example is that of Jyotiraditya Scindia. After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, despite being a promising young leader from Madhya Pradesh and a loyal member of the party, he was kept away from key decision-making and denied major responsibilities. Eventually, disillusioned, he left the Congress to join the BJP in 2020, and now serves as a Union minister. This episode clearly reflects the Congress' persistent preference for family over merit. The Congress that once dominated Indian politics now barely holds on. It governs in only a few states. In many parts of the country, it has no presence at all. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it contested 328 seats, but could win only 99. In several constituencies, it finished third or lower. This is not just a story of electoral defeat, it is a story of losing touch with the people. Also read: Alienating Hindus broke Congress. It must win them back to survive Emergency is a warning, not a memory Today, 50 years later, the Emergency still haunts our collective memory. It is a reminder that freedom cannot be taken for granted. That institutions must be protected. That democracy needs not just elections, but accountability, courage, and truth. Had Congress respected democracy after Independence, India could have marched forward much faster. Instead, decades were lost to a politics of control, fear, and division. The India we see today – confident, growing, respected across the world – is not the result of Emergency-style governance. It is the result of restoring people's trust, empowering citizens, and putting the nation first. The Emergency was not just a political blunder. It was a betrayal. The Congress party tried to erase the very idea of democracy in India. That cannot be forgotten. It should never be forgiven. Those who hijacked MK Gandhi's name have no right to speak about freedom. It is time they apologise to the nation. It is time they step aside. Only then will India's democracy truly be complete. S Vishnu Vardhan Reddy is Vice President, BJP Andhra Pradesh. He tweets @SVishnuReddy. Views are personal. (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
