Safeguard Constitution and democracy: Mamata appeals to CJI
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New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee appealed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to safeguard the Indian Constitution, democracy, and the independence of the judiciary. The West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Supremo also requested him to safeguard the common people from central agencies, according to mainstream media reports.
Banerjee was speaking at the inauguration of the new Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench building of the Calcutta High Court.
She told the CJI, “Please protect the Constitution, democracy, judiciary, history, and geography, as well as the country's borders, from disaster," India Today quoted.
She called the CJI “guardian of the Constitution” and said that the judiciary must remain free of bias.
“We are under your guardianship. Nobody is above you," India Today quoted her.
Further, she pointed out the issue of "media trials", arguing that instances of media debating cases before courts deliver a verdict have significantly increased. She said that there should be no media trials before cases are finalised, since media trials have become a tool to malign people.
"There should be no media trials before cases are finalised. This has become a tool to malign people,” she said.
“Please ensure that agencies do not deliberately attempt to defame citizens. I am not speaking for myself. I am saying this to save democracy, people, judiciary and the Constitution,” she said.
Mamata’s statements come when the ruling Trinamool Congress and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are having a standoff. ED had run raids in 10 locations in the state, including Trinamool's political consultancy firm I-PAC, in a money-laundering investigation, India Today reported.
