Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday alleged that the opposition’s march to Supreme Court on Monday was aimed at weakening constitutional institutions, eroding public trust in them and creating anarchy in the country.Speaking to the media in Nagpur, the CM targeted leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. “The judiciary’s role is to hear petitions and deliver judgments, not to face a protest march or accept representations from demonstrators,” he said, adding that those seeking relief should approach the court through petitions.The Southwest Nagpur MLA alleged that the protest was a deliberate attempt to exert pressure on the apex court. Referring to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s reported decision not to meet the demonstrators, the CM said objectionable language was subsequently used against the CJI on social media.Challenging those who claim to defend the Constitution, he asked whether the protest was consistent with the constitutional principles articulated by Dr BR Ambedkar. “No matter how many protests are held with a copy of the Constitution in hand, we will not allow the Constitution to be harmed,” he said.Fadnavis cited Election Commission, Reserve Bank of India and Comptroller and Auditor General as institutions that, he alleged, the opposition was trying to portray as ineffective.Invoking the Emergency imposed in 1975, Fadnavis accused former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of changing the Constitution to deny citizens their fundamental rights and closing avenues for seeking judicial relief. “Rahul Gandhi, your grandmother had once tried to demolish the Constitution,” he said.Fadnavis also questioned the nature of the protest at Jantar Mantar. He claimed that some platforms had told a parliamentary committee they had received money to amplify social media posts, adding that the funds could have originated abroad.The CM credited BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban with bringing to light how people were mobilised for the Congress protest.
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