On Thursday, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai clarified after facing backlash regarding his earlier remarks about an idol of Lord Vishnu, in Khajuraho, at an Indore District Court. He clarified that people had misconstrued his comments and affirmed his respect for all religions.
“Someone told me the other day that the comments I made have been misportrayed on social media… I respect all religions,” CJI Gavai said, as quoted by Live Law.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Gavai, with Justices MM Sundresh and K Vinod Chandran, was adjudicating upon the issue of large-scale illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka, causing severe environmental damage. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal defended the CJI and called the incident a gross distortion of social media.
“I have known CJI Gavai for 19 years. This is serious. We know that according to Newton’s law, every action has an equal reaction. But now, every action has a disproportionate social media reaction,” Sibal said.
The Khajuraho idol plea
The controversy over the CJI Gavai Khajuraho remarks began when the Supreme Court dismissed a plea to rebuild the idol
Earlier, on September 16, the Supreme Court rejected a plea to rebuild a seven-foot Lord Vishnu statue at Khajuraho’s Javari temple.
Moreover, the temple belongs to India’s UNESCO World Heritage sites in Madhya Pradesh, https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/in, highlighting the cultural importance behind the dispute.
Rejecting the plea, the bench led by CJI Gavai indicated that the petition only amounted to “publicity interest litigation.”
“This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation,” CJI Gavai had said.
He also made the point that such issues come under the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India, he stated, “It’s an archaeological find, whether the ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not. There are various issues.”
Speaking of other temples of worship in Khajuraho, he mentioned, “In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there. There is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho.”
Controversy Over CJI Gavai Khajuraho Remarks
A number of Hindu organizations quickly criticized the remarks, alleging the CJI was “ridiculing” their faith. Impeach him hashtags began trending on social media, claiming his comments hurt religious sentiments.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP President Alok Kumar called for “…restraint with language in courts” and to restate his warning about saying things that may offend people.
For more – https://civiclens.in/khajuraho-idol-restoration-vishnu-statue-case/
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