Impeachment motion against CJI loses momentum

New Delhi : The Congress-driven move for an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra in the Rajya Sabha appears to be losing momentum, with like-minded allies having reservations over the issue.

Three MPs of DMK, an ally of the Congress, had reportedly signed the motion against the Chief Justice on Wednesday, but withdrew on Thursday after advice from the party leadership. However, a DMK MP said the party is yet to decide on the issue.

Similarly, the Samajwadi Party (SP) had initially appended its signatures but later withdrawn.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been coordinating floor strategy with the Congress, has reservations on the impeachment move and has declined to endorse it, so far.

Trinamool leaders said that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee feels that the party can affix its signatures only if all other like-minded parties in the opposition endorse it.

One of its leaders said that the “big two” parties — Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — cannot take regional parties for granted. “Did the Congress consult us before initiating the move?” he asked.

Informed sources said that opinion is divided even within the Congress. Party chief Rahul Gandhi is said to be of the opinion that there should be broad-based support for the motion for it to make progress.

Other parties that maintaing equi-distance from the BJP and the Congress also are cold to the impeachment move.

The move was initiated by the Communist Party of India-M (CPI-M) after four Supreme Court judges raised a banner of revolt against Justice Misra. It was also endorsed by the Nationalist Congrwess Party whose member Majid Memon had signed the motion along with a number of Congress members.

Progress on the motion may also be slow as Parliament is set to be adjourned sine die on Friday, at the end of the Budget session.

Chief Justice Misra is due to demit office in October.

IANS