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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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
