BJP, Modi trying to end Gandhi-Nehru ideology: Congress leader Chennithala
Mumbai (PTI): The Congress' Maharashtra in charge Ramesh Chennithala has said the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were trying to the end the Gandhi-Nehru ideology.
He was speaking on Saturday after a two-day state level training camp concluded in Lonavala in Pune, which was attended by all top leaders, including state unit chief Nana Patole, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and former minister Balasaheb Thorat.
"Narendra Modi and the BJP are working to end democracy. If Modi comes back to power, many people will have to go to jail. Because he doesn't believe in democracy or the Constitution. In this election, we face a do-or-die situation," Chennithala said.
"Modi constantly criticises Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as he wants to end the Gandhi-Nehru ideology," the Kerala MLA added.
Speaking about the state level camp, he said there was very little time for the Lok Sabha polls, which will have to be fought in a scientific manner with proper booth management.
The INDIA alliance must work unitedly to ensure its wins 48 seats in Maharashtra, he said, adding that there must be discipline within the Congress.
It will not work if anyone starts speaking out of line, Chennithala added.
The NSUI, Youth Congress, frontal cells should also have regional level meetings, he added.
Patole said comprehensive discussions took place at the camp.
"We must work with the pride that we are Congress workers. The Congress should be united in the entire state. All cells, frontal organizations should be together. We don't have time to waste and must work on war footing," he said.
"The atmosphere is in favour of the Congress and MVA. The BJP is lying and cheating people. Remember, Maharashtra can stop Modi from retaining power," Patole claimed.
Thorat, the Congress Legislature Party leader, said his party had not regressed but people's principles were regressing.
At present politics doesn't have any ideology and those who have left the Congress will come back when the party regains power, he said.
"Don't let commercial politics continue. We should not allow such people within the Congress party. People should teach such commercial politicians a lesson," he said.
The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was generating positive energy among masses and with requisite efforts the Maha Vikas Aghadi can win more than 38 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, Thorat said.
"The Congress party has a tradition, philosophy and work to show. The Congress has sacrificed for the country. We should be proud that we belong to the Congress. Elections are going to be fought as an alliance. No matter who the candidate is, the goal is that BJP and Narendra Modi should not stay in power. It is not in the interest of the country," Thorat said.
Speaking on the occasion, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said PM Modi constantly talks about India becoming the fifth largest economy in his leadership and that the country would be a developed one by 2047.
"But the pace of the country's economy is much slower under Modi than what it was under the UPA government of Dr Manmohan Singh. If the pace was similar now, we would have been the third largest economy by now," Chavan claimed.
During the UPA period (2004-14), the economy expanded by 183 per cent, while during the Modi era, it is 103 per cent, he pointed out.
"Demonetisation, implementation of GST, sudden lockdown, war waged against farmers and corruption have slowed down the pace of the economy. A dream is being shown that India will become a developed nation by 2047 but for that the per capita income should increase," he said.
"A country with high per capita income is a prosperous country. For that the per capita income should be USD 13,845. Currently, India's per capita income is USD 2800 dollars. The economy needs to grow at 10 per cent but under Modi it is only growing at 6-6.25 per cent. He is misleading people," Chavan claimed.
Meanwhile, Patole said the law for Maratha quota should be passed in the special session of the Maharashtra Legislature in such a way that it stands legal scrutiny.
The law enacted by the Devendra Fadnavis government (2014-19) was struck down by court, he said.
The Maharashtra government has cheated the Maratha community and quota activist Manoj Jarange, he asserted.
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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.
