Droupadi Murmu Should be Prevented from Doing a ‘Fakhruddin-Ali-Ahmed’ on the Indian Republic

 

·      The recent Supreme Court judgement on electoral bonds effectively dents the financial capabilities of the central rulers to win the upcoming 2024 General Elections.

·      The Modi government’s diversionary tactic of notifying rules for CAA implementation appears to have backfired with all India mass protests taking place against this step.

·      Besides the Supreme Court is being persuaded by public spirited citizens to stay this dubious move aimed at consolidating Hindu votes.

·      In fact, even the process of selecting Election Commission Members has been challenged in the Apex court. The stance of the Supreme Court on both these petitions will decide the future of India.

·      Also, the Supreme Court is being petitioned so that the Election Commission puts electoral bonds numbers in the public domain which it has not done so far.

·      All these developments put the BJP government in a tight corner and it may egg on the present President of India to do a ‘Fakhruddin-Ali-Ahmed’ on the Indian Republic. Particularly if the court refuses to oblige the powers that be. Already, moves are afoot; the All India Bar Association Chairman and the Supreme Court Bar Association President has petitioned Droupadi Murmu to go in for a Presidential Reference to the Supreme Court for its electoral bond judgement.

 

Is India headed for Internal Emergency -II

 

The present political developments parallel what happened during 1975 to 77.

·      The Allahabad High Court judgement in a case filed by Raj Narayan had given a jolt to the then Prime Minister of India. The grounds were electoral malpractices resorted to by Indira Gandhi. Her election was set aside.

·      The JP movement was projected as creating anarchy in the country.

·      A pliant judge of the Supreme Court during its summer vacation period heard Mrs. Gandhi’s plea and stayed the Allahabad High Court judgement giving a reprieve to the then PM to stay on as PM.

·      Soon Indira Gandhi declared a state of Internal Emergency!

·      Presently Modi government received a shock by the electoral bond judgement.

·      The ongoing protests against CAA are being suppressed with a heavy hand.

·      The Supreme Court judges may not stay the CAA Rules notified recently; it may not agree to hear and adjudicate before the General Elections the 250 odd petitions filed against the CAA challenging its constitutionality. All these steps will bail out Modi. The opposition political parties and the people of India will have to resist these maneuverings engineered by the political and judicial establishments.

 

[P. S. Sahni is a member of PIL Watch Group.]