Kiren Rijiju: retired judges 'part of the anti-India gang' trying to turn judiciary against govt

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday claimed that a few retired judges and some activists who are "part of the anti-India gang" are trying to make the Indian judiciary play the role of the opposition party.

He again criticised the collegium system to appoint judges, saying it is a result of the "misadventure" of the Congress party.

The minister was speaking at the India Today Conclave, where Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud later defended the Collegium system, saying "not every system is perfect but this is the best system we have developed" and the "object was to protect the independence of the judiciary, which is a cardinal value".

Rijiju also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in London on democracy in India, saying the person who speaks the most says he is not allowed to speak.

"Anti-India forces in India and outside India, they use the same language - democracy is in danger, human rights are non-existent in India. What this anti-India gang says, the same language is used by Rahul Gandhi," the minister alleged.