JD(U) accuses Rahul Gandhi of pressuring judiciary with Supreme Court march

The JD(U) criticised Rahul Gandhi over the Opposition's October 12 march to the Supreme Court. The dispute has put judicial propriety and electoral roll revision under scrutiny.Stock photo used for illustrationNewdelhi,Oct 16, 2026 15:00 ISTThe Janata Dal (United) on Friday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent protest march to the Supreme Court, alleging that it was an unprecedented attempt to pressure the judiciary, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The criticism came a day after the Supreme Court, while hearing a plea concerning the October 12 march by Gandhi and several Opposition leaders over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, said nobody could browbeat the judiciary.JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad told PTI that the development was unprecedented in India's parliamentary history. "What happened was undoubtedly an unprecedented event in Indian parliamentary history. The country had never witnessed such circumstances. It was an attempt to put pressure on the judiciary," he said.Prasad said most of the issues over which Gandhi protested outside the Supreme Court were already being considered by the judiciary. "Regarding some issues, the Supreme Court said that granting a meeting with Opposition leaders would be contrary to constitutional propriety. However, it said one can approach the Supreme Court by following the judicial process and filing a petition," Prasad told PTI.On Thursday, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, the Congress, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and others on a plea against the march to the Supreme Court. The court also directed the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to respond to a plea filed by Gandhi and 12 other Opposition leaders over alleged large-scale deletion of voters' names and irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls, PTI reported.The JD(U)'s criticism centres on the October 12 march, while the Supreme Court has sought responses to pleas concerning both the protest and the alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision.- Ends