Congress today used the Chief Justice of India's criticism of government on the Gopal Subramanium controversy to accuse the Narendra Modi dispensation of indulging in vendetta politics and committing grave breach of constitutional norms.
"There is no doubt in the nation's mind that the sole and only sin committed by Gopal Subramanium is that as amicus curiae he gave an "adverse report" on Modi government in Gujarat, party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
Insisting that "all other reasons are figleaf of pretences and excuses", Singhvi, a senior lawyer, said the government action against Subramanium smacks of "pettiness".
Noting that IB has found nothing wrong against Subramanium, Singhvi said Chief Justice of India R M Lodha has used the language of studied moderation in the context of the government on the issue.
Justice Lodha had yesterday taken exception to the government's handling of the recommendation for appointment of Subramanium as a judge of the Supreme Court, saying it was not proper for the executive to unilaterally segregate his name from three others who were appointed to the top court.
"The mess created by the government has extremely serious ramifications", Singhvi said adding any lawyer worth his name cannot refuse his appointment as an amicus curiae.
In an apparent dig at Modi, Singhvi said persons like Subramanium are bound to face music in a situation where people boast of 56-inch chest and an elephantine memory and are known to never forgive and forget.
He recalled that much before Lok Sabha elections, a senior minister of the present government had written to the former Prime Minister against Subramanian's acting as an amicus curiae.
Singhvi accused BJP of constantly attacking institutions and constitutional functionaries.
