By Muslim Mirror Network
Former Supreme Court Justice V Gopal Gowda disapproved of the supreme court’s 2019 judgement on the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir dispute in Ayodhya.
The Gyanvapi mosque, which is close to Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, was the most recent mosque that right-wing elements claimed as their own, Gowda said, according to a report by Bar and Bench.
“The Ayodhya judgement has made right-reactionary forces claim Gyanvapi and other mosques in the country. This is a great threat to the Republic of India,” he said.
According to him, sections of Hindutva are destroying the foundations of democracy and turning the nation into a fascist one.
“Liberty, equality and fraternity is the trinity the Indian Constitution guarantees. Now, these are endangered because of reactionary elements and the State transforming into a fascist Hindu one. Such forces are taking over all pillars. For example, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) denies equal citizenship; it is] against secularism, which is the bedrock of our democracy,” Justice Gowda said.
In addition, Justice Gowda discussed a number of other subjects, including the recent ruling on demonetisation, COVID-19 shutdown management, EWS (economically weaker section), free media, etc.
Justice Gowda welcomed Justice B. V. Nagarathna’s opposition to the policy of the Narendra Modi-led administration with regard to demonetisation.
Gowda also discussed the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave of poor handling, which left many, particularly from the economically underprivileged sections, trapped on the roadways without food or drink. He said that small and medium-sized businesses were also greatly impacted.
Gowda highlighted his dissatisfaction with how central agencies like the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) had turned into the government’s puppets.
“Election Commission is another Constitutional body that seems to have buckled under executive pressure. Once was during 2017 Gujarat poll announcement, another was arbitrary disqualification of Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, which the Supreme Court later castigated it for,” the former judge said.
Gowda commented on press freedom, saying it is unfortunate to read of journalists who are critical of the administration being either slain or imprisoned on spurious charges.
“For Kappan, when he moved the Supreme Court, he was asked to go back to High Court. Ultimately, he got bail but was detained for more than two years for no fault of his. For two years, a person, a journalist who went to report on the rape and murder of a Dalit, was detained,” he said.
He was speaking at an event organised by the All India Lawyers Union, the Delhi Union of Journalists, and the Democratic Teachers Front.
