"Law Minister Has No Authority": P Chidambaram Slams Lakshman Rekha Remark
NDTV
"All the King's horses and all the King's men cannot save that law," Mr Chidambaram said in a swipe at the Centre.
As the ruling BJP and opposition Congress continue to trade barbs over the historic Supreme Court order on the colonial-era sedition law, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday slammed Law Minister Kiren Rijiju over his "Lakshman Rekha" remark. After the top court put on hold the application of the controversial sedition law, Mr Rijiju had said while he "respected the court and its independence", there is a "Lakshman Rekha" that cannot be crossed.
Mr Chidambaram, reacting to the remark, said the Law Minister has no authority to draw any "arbitrary Lakshman Rekha" and should read Article 13 of the Constitution which allows for any pre-constitution law to be declared void if they are inconsistent with constitutional rights.
"The Legislature cannot make a law, nor can a law be allowed to remain on the statute book, that violates the Fundamental Rights. The sedition law, in the view of many legal scholars, violates Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution," the former Union Minister said on Twitter.
"All the King's horses and all the King's men cannot save that law," Mr Chidambaram said in a swipe at the Centre.
