Interview/ Abhijit Gangopadhyay, Former high court judge and BJP candidate in Tamluk
In the port city of Haldia, near the mouth of the Hooghly river, hundreds of people chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ as former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s black Scorpio passes by. He is showered with flowers wherever he goes and is attracting attention from all sections of society.
Gangopadhyay resigned as judge on March 5, five months before he was due to retire, and is the BJP candidate from Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency. The rival candidate, Debanghu Bhattacharya of the Trinamool Congress, is less than half his age. The 27-year-old, who heads Trinamool’s social media cell, created the party’s popular ‘Khela Hobe’ campaign during the 2021 Assembly polls.
Gangopadhyay was seen as a bold fighter against corruption. He even clashed with fellow judges and caused disruptions in the judicial system, prompting the Supreme Court to convene special sittings on holidays and outside regular court hours to handle cases involving him. But people warmed to him, particularly after his rulings in a case of alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment by the West Bengal School Service Commission and his call for a CBI investigation of the scam.
The case led to the arrest of Minister Partha Chatterjee and his close associate Arpita Mukherjee by the Enforcement Directorate. The investigators discovered Rs50 crore in Indian and foreign currencies and 6 kilogram gold in Arpita’s apartment. The ED had to seek the Reserve Bank of India’s help to transport the money to its office.
In an interview with a Bengali television channel while he was still a judge, Gangopadhyay made controversial comments about Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The Supreme Court rebuked him, saying judges should not discuss ongoing cases in the media, and removed him from the teacher recruitment case. In response, on the same day, Gangopadhyay directed the secretary-general of the Supreme Court to give him, by midnight, documents relating to his removal and an official translation of the Bengali interview.
In Tamluk, free from the constraints of the judiciary, Gangopadhyay has launched an aggressive campaign. He is clearly an asset for the BJP, which is rebuilding itself after a poor show in the 2021 assembly polls. This time round the BJP is focusing on alleged corruption during the Mamata Banerjee regime and atrocities against women in Bengal. The Trinamool mocks Gangopadhyay, who was known for his leftist background, for making a smooth transition from Marx to Modi.
Debanghu Bhattacharya | Salil Bera
Tamluk, in Purba Medinipur district, is the turf of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and his family. His younger brother Dibyendu, the sitting MP, has joined the BJP after the Trinamool refused to renominate him. Nandigram, where Suvendhu defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 assembly election, is within the Tamluk parliamentary constituency.
Though he was a spirited fighter in court, Gangopadhyay is struggling to cope with the rigours of election campaign in the scorching heat. Tamluk is a vast constituency, requiring extensive travel through villages. He began his campaign with religious ceremonies, temple visits and attending small gatherings. His eyes look tired, and he takes mid-day baths to deal with the heat. Excerpts from an interview:
Q/ Do you realise that you have set a dangerous precedent, tempting political parties to lure sitting judges with promises of political roles, risking the integrity of India’s judicial system?
A/ It is a mistaken assumption that judges can be influenced. There may be a few bad judges, and I am not referring to them. Almost all judges have impeccable character, and it is not possible for anyone, whether from the government or a political party, to influence a judge by offering post-retirement benefits. Having worked for five and a half years (in the High Court) and interacted with many judges, I can attest that they maintain high standards of morality and base their judgments on the facts and evidence presented before them.
Q/ Is the TMC’s accusation that your orders, especially concerning the CBI inquiry into the school recruitment scam, were politically motivated justified?
A/ The government has challenged my orders that were unfavourable to them before the division bench or subsequently in the Supreme Court, and sometimes directly in the Supreme Court. While some were returned, none faced interference from the apex court. Throughout these appeals, the government never accused me of issuing judgments or orders with political motives. They are now raising baseless questions alleging political bias, which I find unfounded.
Q/ What inspired your decision to resign and enter politics?
A/ My decision was driven by my conscience. I felt compelled to reach out to a larger audience and serve people beyond the confines of the courtroom, especially those in need. Before making this transition, I refrained from handling any court matters. I took leave for five consecutive days, from Monday to Friday, and included the weekends before and after, totalling nine days, during which I avoided adjudicating any cases. It didn’t seem appropriate to continue making legal judgments while delving into politics. Ultimately, discussions with mutual friends led me to join the BJP, as it is the party I believe can effectively counter the Trinamool Congress.
Q/ Did you discuss political aspirations with fellow judges, and if so, what was their response?
A/ I have never discussed my plans with anyone on the bench; it was a decision I made independently.
Q/ Were you approached by any political party other than the BJP?
A/ No, I was not contacted by any other political party, nor did I reach out to any. I connected with the BJP through mutual acquaintances.
Q/ How do you justify your plunge into Bengal politics amidst rampant poll violence, election rigging, and the dominance of strongman politicians?
A/ Bengal politics has now reached a standard that was unimaginable 25 years ago. It is filled with substandard people. The BJP stands out as a beacon of integrity in this tainted political landscape. The BJP has a certain culture where dialogue and debate are possible, unlike within the TMC and other parties. The latter seem more focused on destructive actions and benefiting from looting large sums of government funds. The public is becoming increasingly aware of these practices, leading to the exposure and apprehension of many individuals involved.
Q/ What is your stance on electoral bonds, given your anger against corruption and the substantial funds the BJP gathered through them?
A/ I prefer not to comment on this. The senior spokesperson for the BJP in Delhi will speak about this.
Q/ Were you once an independent person freely expressing your opinions, and are you now tied to a political party?
A/ I am a dedicated party member.
Q/ Were you previously involved with left-wing parties as some people have claimed?
A/ It’s a misconception. I began my career as a junior under Nishith Adhikari, a former law minister during the Left Front era. While in his chamber, I met many left-minded individuals and political workers, forming friendships with them. Subsequently, I started working independently in court. I also associated with Bikash Bhattacharya, a CPI(M) leader and an excellent lawyer. He was always supportive, especially when it came to helping poor clients who couldn’t afford huge fees. Whenever such people approached me, I would refer them to Bhattacharya, and he would handle their cases as my senior. However, this doesn’t imply that I am swayed by their political views. Bhattacharya is a gentleman who would never question my decision to join the BJP.
Q/ You recently sparked controversy by stating that you cannot choose between Gandhi and Godse?
A/ I responded to this question in a rapid round where I didn’t have the opportunity to elaborate. It’s actually a clash of two different ideologies: one of Mahatma Gandhi, based on non-cooperation and non-violence, and the other associated with Godse, who had certain beliefs or motives. It is important to note that this is not about favouring Godse over Gandhi. I’m not crazy enough to suggest that Mahatma Gandhi was wrong and Godse was right. What I intended to convey is the need to understand Godse’s political beliefs or philosophy for discussion purposes. I also made it clear that any act of murder is objectionable. I do not support Godse’s assassination of Gandhi; I am familiar with Gandhi’s philosophy, as I have studied it. And I wanted to know what is Godse’s. A killer cannot be a hero.
Q/ As a former jurist, what is your comment on the widespread concern among intellectuals and jurists that the Constitution is under threat and constitutional values are not being respected under Narendra Modi’s rule?
A/ I have to learn and educate myself about their thoughts and what they are saying. I also have to realise and assess whether the BJP is really going to do such things. I have not assessed this yet. I am not really in a position to answer this question.
Q/ Will you speak out within the party if you discover anything like that?
A/ I do not know. Let me see what is happening, if I get to that stage of leadership. And I am not answering this question, as it is hypothetical.
Q/ Why are you so angry with Mamata Banerjee? What are your thoughts on her?
A/ She was very successful as an opposition leader and dislodged the Left Front government that ruled Bengal for 34 years. Then she came to power with her own political party, and thereafter, all her actions have been those of corrupt individuals. She protects corrupt individuals. When someone does something wrong, she says she didn’t know about it. If you mention Shahjahan Sheikh of Sandeshkhali, she says she doesn’t know. If you ask about Partha Chatterjee who looted the poor in the name of job opportunities, she will again claim ignorance. At other times, she claims to know everything about the state. We also know that without her knowledge, nothing happens here.
Q/ How was the transition from the court to election campaign? Mamata has vowed to ensure your defeat and send students who, she claims, were denied jobs by you.
A/ The election campaign is very interesting, and people are overwhelmed. As for Mamata’s threat, let the students come here, I will explain everything to them. The next day, you will see these students chasing the chief minister.