No conflict with judiciary: BJP on Shah's Sabarimala verdict remark

The BJP Monday said party chief Amit Shah's remarks that courts should desist from pronouncing "impracticable" verdicts, against the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling on Sabarimala, should not be misconstrued as a "conflict with the judiciary".

Addressing a press conference here, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the saffron party was only raising the "issue of faith" with "utmost humbleness".

A recent verdict of the apex court lifting the age restrictions on entry of women to the Kerala-based hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa, who is believed to be a celibate as per traditions, has led to massive protests by the devotees.

The BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have extended their support to the devotees who are opposing the entry of women of menstruating age to the abode of the Lord.

Shah had Saturday said that courts should desist from pronouncing verdicts that cannot be implemented, drawing flak from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Responding to a query on the Sabarimala row and Shah's remarks, Patra said, "There is no confrontation (with the judiciary on the issue). The BJP only believes that faith should be respected."
When asked to comment on the continuous attacks by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Modi government over the Rafale fighter jet deal, Patra said, "Why Congress is not approaching the court if the Congress president knows facts and (has) documents related to the deal?"