During the regular course of proceedings of the decade old money laundering case against Shabir Shah a Kashmiri Separatist, the complainant lawyer from Enforcement directorate asked him to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ for proving his patriotism as his lawyer was calming the defendant was a law abiding citizen of India but Sessional judge made swift end to the
In this high melodramatic scenario as the defendant lawyer claim that Shah was law abiding citizen of India with complete faith in the India’s judiciary and constitution, the Rajeev Awasthi lawyer from ED counteracted the statement by asking him to chant the patriotic words to stake claim on his nationalistic love.
Putting swift end to the whole drama situation Sessional Judge Sidhartha Sharma said, “This (the courtroom) is not a TV studio. If you want to say these things, you should sit in a TV studio.”
Awashthi however acknowledged the reporters and said, “I turned very emotional when Shah’s counsel tried to glorify him by insisting that his client had complete faith in Indian law and the Constitution…. I drew on my craft and skills as a lawyer to immediately ask the accused to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ to prove his counsel’s point.”
While MS Khan deliberately told that “If the Constitution makes it mandatory to chant ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ to prove one’s nationalist credentials, then we will all do it. But what kind of precedent was my lawyer friend trying to set? I’m thankful that the judge immediately intervened and pulled him up.”
Shabir Shah Case is against the charges levied by ED for sponsoring terrorist’s activities against the national interests.
These sorts of tests for patriotism are making unnecessary chaotic conditions in the Indian society. There was also Supreme Court statement that people who don’t stand up while national anthem is played during the movies could be held and face legal action.
