Row over Raja's meeting with Chelameswar

An unusual meeting between CPI national secretary D Raja and Justice Jasti Chelameswar on Friday, soon after an unprecedented press conference by four Supreme Court judges, triggered a controversy, with a section questioning the meeting.

 

The meeting took place at Justice Chelameswar's official residence on Tuglaq Road around 3.30 pm.

 

Senior Opposition leaders were miffed at Raja for the "thoughtless meeting", which they felt, had given a handle to government and opponents.

 

Raja's party CPI was quick to dissociate with the meeting.  

 

"The CPI would like to clarify that it has no intention to interfere in the unfortunate tangle of judiciary. We have high regard at the maturity and wisdom of judiciary. Issues raised should be discussed and resolved by the judiciary itself," CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy tweeted.

 

Raja defended his meeting saying, "I have known him for a long time. When I came to know of the extraordinary step taken by him and other judges, I thought I must meet him. Not giving it a political colour. These are concerns for everybody, it's about the future of the country and democracy."