Country, army have bowed down before PM, says MP minister; Cong says it's insult to armed forces
Jabalpur/Indore, May 16 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda on Friday said the country, its army and soldiers have 'bowed down at the feet' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting the Congress to dub it an insult to the valour of the armed forces.
The BJP leader later claimed his statement was "distorted" by the opposition party, and he meant to say the people have bowed before the army after seeing its valour during the successful execution of Operation Sindoor.
The controversy followed after another Madhya Pradesh minister, Vijay Shah, came under fire for remarks about Col Sofiya Qureshi who conducted media briefings on Operation Sindoor along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
Devda, who is the finance minister of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, was speaking at a function of Civil Defence volunteers in Jabalpur.
"We want to thank the prime minister. The entire country, its army and soldiers are 'natmastak' (with their heads bowed) at his feet. The entire country has bowed at his feet," he said.
Words are not enough to praise the reply given to Pakistan through Operation Sindoor, the BJP leader said, adding, "Let's give a big round of applause to him (Modi)."
People were very angry after the Pahalgam attack where tourists were shot in front of women and children on the basis of religion, and they were distressed until the attack was avenged (through strikes on terror bases in Pakistan), he said.
As Devda's potentially controversial remark followed the row over Vijay Shah's statement, Congress trained its guns on the BJP, accusing it of "constantly insulting the army".
Speaking to PTI in Indore hours later, Devda said he was hurt to see that his statement was being "distorted."
"What I meant was that during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army displayed great valour, and the people of the country bow at its feet in respect," the deputy CM said.
Congress leaders were distorting his statement "out of jealousy", he said, adding that legal action should be taken against those who are misrepresenting it.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, meanwhile, said, "The constant insult of our army by BJP leaders is extremely shameful and unfortunate. First a minister of Madhya Pradesh made an indecent comment on women soldiers, and now their Deputy Chief Minister has grossly insulted the army."
The people of the entire country are proud of the valour of the army but the BJP people are "insulting" the army and instead of taking action against these leaders, the BJP is trying its best to save them, she alleged.
At a press conference in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate played a video of Devda's remarks and asked whether anyone can imagine any Indian ever saying something as "blasphemous and brazenly shameless" as that.
"The entire country is grateful for what our armed forces have done. They have consistently taught a lesson to our enemies. Our armed forces have divided Pakistan into two. We have always given a befitting reply in 1965, 1971, 1999, and even after the Pahalgam terror strike. Our armed forces brought Pakistan to its knees by consistently destroying terrorist camps in Pakistan," she said.
"We honour their valour, their supreme sacrifice, and our heads bow as far as our armed forces are concerned. They don't just protect our borders but also protect our territorial integrity. They are the ones because of whom our people live safely and work the way we do. They guard us from the glaciers of Siachen to the deserts of Rajasthan. Such a statement is an insult that no Indian is willing to take," she said.
PM Modi should immediately sack Devda, and if he does not, "we will be forced to believe that this was said with his permission", said the Congress spokesperson.
When Vijay Shah, another minister from Madhya Pradesh, insulted one of India's most decorated soldiers, Col Qureshi, the BJP neither questioned him nor took any action, Shrinate alleged.
"Both the Delhi and Madhya Pradesh governments remained mute spectators until the Jabalpur High Court ordered an FIR to be filed (against Shah) - an FIR that has since been reduced to a mockery. The High Court has taken strong cognisance of the matter, clearly stating that the charges listed in the FIR would not stand the test of law and has directed that the FIR be amended without fear or favour," she added.
"The BJP had absolutely no role in the freedom movement and made no sacrifices. Modi ji once claimed that a corporate or a trader in India is braver than Indian soldiers. Forget avenging the supreme sacrifice of our 20 bravehearts in Galwan — we have continued doing business with China. Our trade deficit with China now stands at 100 billion dollars," she said.
Congress has already sought the sacking of minister Vijay Shah after he purportedly said, referring to the terrorists who killed tourists in Pahalgam last month, that "those who wiped sindoor (vermilion) off our daughters' forehead... we sent their sister to teach them a lesson."
'देश की सेना और सैनिक प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के चरणों में नतमस्तक हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 16, 2025
• ये बात मध्य प्रदेश की BJP सरकार के उपमुख्यमंत्री जगदीश देवड़ा ने कही है।
जगदीश देवड़ा का यह बयान बेहद ही घटिया और शर्मनाक है।
ये सेना के शौर्य और पराक्रम का अपमान है। जब पूरा देश आज सेना के सामने नतमस्तक… pic.twitter.com/uQmrj40qnj
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CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
