Former civil servants appeal for action against Amit Shah for 'Unconstitutional' Sabarimala Speech'

New Delhi: About 50 former civil servants and diplomats wrote to Election Commission, Supreme Court, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind Tuesday expressing their worry over BJP president Amit Shah’s speech at Kannur.

They sought action against Amit Shah’s “unconstitutional” speech, questioning the authority of the Supreme Court, and threatening to bring down an elected government.

In their public appeal, former civil servants including Shivshankar Menon, Nitin Desai, Wajahat Habibullah, Julio Rebeiro, Niranjan Pant among others, highlighted reports of Shah’s speech at Kannur on October 27, pointing at two “inter-related” comments.

“Addressing a public meeting at Kannur, Kerala, on Saturday, the 27th October 2018, the President of the main ruling party at the centre made two interrelated comments: That the Supreme Court ought to have issued implementable orders; and, that the State Government in Kerala would be brought down for its temerity to enforce the Supreme Court orders regarding the entry of women from a certain age group into the Sabrimala temple by arresting and suppressing ‘Ayyappa devotees.’, said the statement.

Amit Shah’s two comments, “taken together” said the veterans, cast “aspersions upon and questioning the lawful authority of the highest court of the land”.

While pressing for measures against the speech, they appealed to the Prime Minister and the President to give, “sage counsel” to the BJP President.