Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan questioned the recent political steps with regards to Hindu traditions taken. He stated that Hindus have constitutional rights to follow their traditions and beliefs. Kalyan pointed out that recently 120 India Alliance MPs, under the leadership of the DMK, moved an impeachment motion against a judge. The said judge delivered a judgment protecting Hindu traditions. Kalyan questioned why the political parties are doing all these and whether it is to mount pressure on the courts. He said that this will make judges cautious while delivering judgments on Hindu traditions.
This controversy had cropped up following a dispute between Dargah Committee and Subrahmanya Swamy Temple Committee regarding lighting of Karthika Deepam on a lamppost at Thirupparakundram hill in Tamil Nadu. The single bench, Justice GR Swaminathan, at the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, had ordered that a limited number of people could light the lamp. However, the Tamil Nadu government did not make the arrangement for the same. After this move, DMK-led India Alliance MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submitted a letter to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Swaminathan.
Kalyan highlighted that political responses of this nature did not happen in the past. For instance, when the Supreme Court Constitution Bench had ruled against the age-old traditions in Sabarimala, no impeachment of judges was moved, Similarly, when comments were made on a former Chief Justice of India in a case, accountability was not sought to be fixed. Later, comments made against the Chief Justice were criticized by political parties.
Pawan Kalyan drew a contrast between the current political response. He said that when a senior judge delivered a judgment upholding age-old Hindu traditions, political parties seek his impeachment. Kalyan termed this as discrimination. He advised that all voices come together for the formation of Hindu Dharma Protection Board to protect the rights and traditions of the community.
