Maharashtra Chief Minister Criticizes Protesters for Targeting Constitutional Institutions

Mumbai, October 12 (Daily Kiran) : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a strong critique against opposition parties and activist groups on Monday. He defended Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud’s decision to refrain from meeting with protesters, emphasizing that such actions should not be expected from the head of the judiciary.

In a media briefing, Fadnavis accused these groups of orchestrating a calculated effort to weaken India’s core constitutional institutions and promote chaos reminiscent of ultra-leftist movements. He questioned the constitutional basis for expecting the Chief Justice to engage with demonstrators, asserting that the judiciary operates within its constitutional rights. He praised the judiciary’s stance that grievances should be resolved through legal channels, not through public pressure on the streets.

Fadnavis alleged a systematic attempt to undermine independent pillars of democracy, such as the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, and the Reserve Bank of India. He warned that the ultimate goal of these groups is to convince citizens that the constitutional framework cannot deliver justice.

He distinguished between lawful democratic protests and outright chaos, referencing incidents where crowds crossed the line with incendiary slogans. He remarked that gatherings of individuals with criminal records, disrupting public order, cannot be considered peaceful protests but rather constitute complete lawlessness.

Comparing current protests to constructive democratic dialogue, Fadnavis expressed his administration’s willingness to engage in discussions. He reiterated that efforts to reform and persuade, even with violent insurgents like Naxalites, should not compromise law and order in the name of activism.

Fadnavis’s remarks came in the wake of BJP National President Nitin Naveen’s criticism of opposition parties and youth groups protesting in the national capital over changes to voter lists and accountability of the Chief Election Commissioner. Naveen accused the India bloc of attempting to destabilize the country after being rejected in democratic elections, alleging that the ongoing protests are being instigated by foreign forces aiming to undermine national peace and economic growth.