Row over BJP leaders' criticism of SC: Jairam Ramesh shares Nehru's apology letter to CJI in 1959
New Delhi, Apr 22 (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday cited former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's apology letter to a Supreme Court judge in 1959 to assert that this is how democratic foundations, which are now under assault, got built.
In a post on X, Ramesh said, "On June 26, 1959, Nehru wrote to the Chief Justice of India S R Das and to a Supreme Court Judge Vivian Bose expressing his deep regrets at the remarks he had made at a press conference in New Delhi on June 10, 1959, that were taken to be criticisms of Justice Bose who was then inquiring into the Mundhra affair."
"This is how the democratic foundations -- that are now under assault -- got built," he added.
Ramesh was supported by his party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP, Abhishek Singhvi, who said, "Tweeted by friend Jairam Ramesh shows how we live in different times; how magnanimity and humility were naturally embedded in psyche of great people."
"Am sure many today, including those holding high offices, will never understand what made such people and values special," Singhvi said.
The posts came in the wake of a row over the Supreme Court's criticism by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, which has been challenged in the apex court.
Ramesh also shared a copy of a book that contains Nehru's letter to Justice Bose.
In his letter, Nehru said, "I should like to express personally to you my deep regret at the remarks I made in this connection at the press conference I addressed in Delhi earlier this month.
"I realise fully that those remarks were improper and I should not have allowed myself to utter them. I was taken rather unawares by the questions put to me and I was thinking of many other things at the time also. I trust you will be good enough to accept my apology for this impropriety which I have committed."
The book said Nehru also wrote to CJI Das on June 26, 1959 in the same vein, adding "that was an impropriety which I regret greatly as I have believed that the judiciary and, more especially, the judges of the Supreme Court deserve the highest consideration and respect".
On June 26, 1959, Nehru wrote to the Chief Justice of India SR Das and to a Supreme Court Judge Vivian Bose expressing his deep regrets at the remarks he had made at a press conference in New Delhi on June 10, 1959, that were taken to be criticisms of Justice Bose who was then… pic.twitter.com/PiRz4fjn5Q
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 22, 2025
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MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
