‘People will remember this’: Sanjay Raut slams CJI for refusing to meet INDIA leaders

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday hit out at Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for refusing a meeting with the INDIA bloc delegation, saying people of the country will remember everything.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had sought a meeting with the CJI to discuss the issue of “vote chori”. However, the CJI reportedly declined their request, citing similar matters pending before the apex court. 

“The Chief Justice, whose role is to safeguard the Constitution, is unwilling to meet us... When we are seeking to save democracy amidst the theft of votes and electoral fraud, and the deletion of millions of names from the rolls and wish to meet you to voice our grievance, you say you will not meet politicians. The people will remember this,” Raut told ANI.

The MP lamented that such a refusal by the head of the judiciary is a severe blow to those fighting against autocracy. 

"This kind of stance, when taken by the Chief Justice of India, is a blow to the millions of citizens in this country who are fighting against autocracy and fighting for the protection of democracy,” he said.

Raut alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have installed their own people in every constitutional institutions and it was as a final resort that the Opposition leaders tried to visit the Chief Justice.

"Our Chief Justice says that he does not have the right to meet political leaders. If the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is going to disrespect the vote—the people’s mandate—then who should the people of this country turn to?,” he asked.

The Congress leaders had sought an appointment with the CJI between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday to submit a memorandum demanding an end to alleged “vote chori”, the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and a return to paper ballots.

However, according to reports, the CJI declined to meet the leaders, observing that no orders could be passed on the administrative side. He reportedly advised them to file a petition through the judicial process, which could be taken up on Tuesday.

INDIA bloc leaders, meanwhile, are set to hold a march to the Supreme Court this afternoon, pressing for their demand for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.