BJP accuses Congress of 'judge shopping' in tiol Herald case

New Delhi, Jan 18: The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of “judge shopping” in the tiol Herald case, saying it seeks to have its own way in matters related to executive, legislative and the judiciary. The BJP’s attack came two days after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said that Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill could be passed in just 15 minutes if the government accepts his party’s conditions.

“This has been the character, in fact the policy of the Congress to have its say on three important pillars of democracy, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary... They want everything should be in their pocket, otherwise they would not support you,” said Bharatiya Jata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference.

“Even in tiol Herald case, it was almost as they went out for ‘judge shopping’,” he said, alleging the Congress leaders wanted the case to be heard with a bench of their choice. The BJP leader also slammed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi’s silence over Malda violence, on the rising crime graph in Bihar and allegations of former law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj that he himself was pressurised by then UPA government for a favourable judgement on 2005 apex court judgement on Bihar government formation. “We can understand their silence on Bihar and West Bengal because they may be having complusions of politics. That’s how the Congress functions. But I dont understand when one of the former ministers of UPA government, Hansraj Bhardwaj speaks of a matter which is of extreme importance, Sonia and Rahul choose to be silent,” Patra said.

“Bhardwaj, himself was pressurised by none other than his own government to get a judgement in favour of the Congress party. Can we imagine the level of interference of the Congress had or in fact wanted. This is the ture of the Congress,” he said. Hitting out at Rahul for criticising Startup India programme, launched by Prime Minister rendra Modi, the BJP leader dubbed him as a “start-up” in politics. “He himself is a startup, whose entry into politics was easy but not finding the exit route. He should read the complete action plan of ‘Start-Up’ and ‘Stand-Up” of Modiji. There is a exit route also there. If he (Rahul) is incapable, he may find a exit route too,” he said. (IANS)