New Delhi: The ruling BJP and opposition Congress continue to trade barbs over the historic Supreme Court order on the colonial-era sedition law. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed Law Minister Kiren Rijiju over his โLakshman Rekhaโ remark, on Thursday.
The apex court has put the application of the controversial sedition law on hold. After this Rijiju had said while he โrespected the court and its independenceโ, there is a โLakshman Rekhaโ that cannot be crossed.
Reacting to this remark made by him Chidambaram said the Law Minister has no authority to draw any โarbitrary Lakshman Rekhaโ. He should read article 13 of the Constitution which allows for any pre-constitution law to be declared void if they are inconsistent with constitutional rights.
Chidambaram taking to Twitter wrote, โThe Legislature cannot make a law, nor can a law be allowed to remain on the statute book, that violates the Fundamental Rights. The sedition law, in the view of many legal scholars, violates Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.โ
Taking a dig at the Centre he said, โAll the Kingโs horses and all the Kingโs men cannot save that law.โ
Rijiju gave a fitting reply to the minister. He pointed out that the first amendment to the Constitution was brought in by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It sought to limit the fundamental rights to protect against โabuse of freedom of speech and expressionโ.
โThatโs why Nehru Ji brought in the First Amendment and Smt Indira Gandhi made Section 124A a cognisable offence for the first time in Indiaโs history?
And during Anna Movement & the other anti-corruption movements citizens were subjected to harassment, intimidation and arrests?โ he said on Twitter.
โWeโve made our positions very clear and also informed the court about the intention of our PM (Prime Minister Narendra Modi). We respect the court and its independence. But thereโs a โLakshman Rekhaโ that must be respected by all organs of the state in letter and spirit. We have to ensure that we respect the provisions of the Indian Constitution as well as existing laws,โ the Law Minister told reporters about the court order yesterday.
โWe respect each other, the court should respect government, legislature, so as government should also respect court. We have clear demarcation of boundary and that Lakshman Rekha should not be crossed by anybody,โ Rijiju added.
Rijiju had evaded a question on whether he believed the Supreme Courtโs decision was wrong.
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