‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ is a one-year old slogan, Supreme Court told

Senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi clarified that he on behalf of the Congress President has informed the court that ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ is a political slogan of the party and is one and a half-year old

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi (Twitter)
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi (Twitter)
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NH Web Desk

Reacting to the Supreme Court decision to serve notice to the Congress President for attributing the slogan ‘ Chowkidar Chor Hai’ to the Supreme Court, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday declared that he had informed the court that the Congress as well as the Congress Party stands by the political slogan, which is one and a half year old.

The Congress President had on Monday expressed his regret for attributing the slogan to the apex court ‘in the heat of electioneering’ . This was made in the context of the BJP and the Prime Minister claiming repeatedly to have received a clean chit from the Supreme Court on the Rafale deal and the apex court, before which a Review Peition is pending, ruling that reports on the deal allegedly stolen from the Government could be relied upon for adjudication.

On Tuesday Mr Singhvi said, “ I have repeated in Hindi and English and I have repeated in writing in the Affidavit that this is a 1-1/2 year old slogan; it is our stand, it is my stand, my party’s stand, Shri Rahul Gandhi’s stand. It is a stand which we have repeated, are repeating and will repeat.”

“It is a political slogan but we expressed regret for the simple fact that we cannot attribute that this political slogan has been endorsed, adopted and accepted by the court. I cannot be clearer than this.”

“In my detailed submissions today, firstly I pointed out that the very detailed comprehensive explanation has been filed as per Hon’ble Court’s orders- yesterday, Monday. In that explanation we have written very clearly that for18 months or two years – there has been very vibrant major campaign in this country by Shri Rahul Gandhi, by the Congress Party, by several other political parties stating openly and categorically that the Prime Minister, his Ministers, ruling party etc. are complicit in a very serious scam – Rafale scam.”

“In this context we had coined and have repeatedly used and relied upon the political slogan ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ which we have done, we continue to do and will continue to rely upon.”

“However it was never our intention to attribute this slogan as a finding, as a conclusion of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Indeed it could not have been such an intention for the simple reason that no court, much less the Supreme Court, would adopt or endorse such a slogan in a Court order.”

“Fourthly, I submitted that in view of this very clear explanation and the Supreme Court being very categorical and carefully in giving this word ‘explanation’ and not issuing notice earlier and in view of having obtained our explanation, it could and should close the matter at the stage.”

“I also made a respectful submission that the BJP is trying to deliberately politicize this matter in the context of ongoing elections that it is using the court also as a forum for politicization and in view of our explanation, it should be respectfully dropped.”

“The court having heard us thereafter decided to issue notice, which is to be responded to on 30th, which is next week, Tuesday and one of the purposes of that appears to be to list it with the review matter of Rafale.”

“Consequently if necessary, we will file additional explanation although we have given a detailed explanation already.”

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