NCP president Sharad Pawar Monday hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah for his remarks that courts should desist from pronouncing "impracticable" orders made in the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala.
Addressing a "Save Constitution" rally organised by the women's wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) here, he also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government on a host of issues, including the recent turmoil in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Slamming Shah, Pawar said the BJP chief's comments indicated that the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala was not acceptable to the saffron party.
A recent verdict of the apex court lifting the age restrictions on entry of women to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa, who is believed to be celibate as per traditions, has led to massive protests by the devotees in the southern state.
Shah had Saturday said courts should desist from pronouncing verdicts that could not be implemented, drawing flak from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Pawar said, "The Kerala government has decided to implement the apex court order on allowing entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala shrine.
"BJP president Amit Shah went to Kerala and said how could the Supreme Court pronounce orders that could not be implemented."
He pointed out that Shah also said people would lose faith in the judiciary if the courts started pronouncing verdicts that could not be implemented.
"Shah's comments reflect that the order of the Supreme Court is not acceptable to them (the government and the BJP). The remarks also show that they do not accept gender equality," the former Union minister said.
He added that the current scenario, wherein the people in power did not have faith in the Constitution, judiciary and administration, was "dangerous for the country".
The NCP chief also accused the BJP of "misusing" power and "attacking" the Constitution.
"Today, those who are in power have taken a stand to misuse the power they hold. We are also witnessing that how a stand of safeguarding the interests of a handful of people in the society is being adopted and how there are continuous attacks on the Constitution," he said.
The veteran leader also referred to the Centre divesting CBI chief Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana of all powers and sending them on administrative leave, in the wake of allegations and counter-allegations of corruption against them.
The CBI was known for conducting thorough investigations and its independent stand, he said.
"We have seen how the chief of the CBI was sent home at 2 AM and another person (M Nageswara Rao), who is facing several inquiries, was brought in.
"By doing this, they (government) want to send a message to the entire system that whatever they do or decide to do is right and that you (the system) should act as per their orders," Pawar said.
The present scenario was "dangerous" as the people in power did not have any faith left in the Constitution, he added.
Pawar also alleged that the government was not taking any measures to resolve issues like quota, drought, safety of women and unemployment.
"The entire picture is worrisome. Maharashtra is facing a drought and the common man, farmers, women -- all are facing hardships. However, the state government is not taking any decision," he said.
Pawar appealed to the youth to oust the BJP from the Centre and Maharashtra for its "failure" to resolve various issues concerning the people.
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