Pawan Kalyan calls impeachment move ‘intimidation of judiciary’

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan criticised the move by DMK MPs to seek the impeachment of a Madras High Court judge, saying it weaponises the Constitution and amounts to political intimidation.

In a social media post, he pointed out that even during major judicial controversies, such as the Supreme Court’s Sabarimala verdict that overturned a centuries-old custom and triggered unrest, no impeachment motion was filed. He noted that a former Chief Justice of India who made a remark criticised by devotees also faced no inquiry or demand for accountability.

Pawan Kalyan said the current move to target a sitting judge for allowing devotees to light a Deepam on temple-owned land reflects a clear double standard. He stressed that the Constitution permits impeachment only for proven misbehaviour or incapacity.

He questioned why political parties were taking such an extreme step over a judgment that upheld a long-standing Hindu ritual. He asked whether this was an attempt to pressure the judiciary and influence future rulings on matters related to Hindu faith and practice.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the country needs a Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board to ensure devotees can manage temple affairs without political interference or judicial overreach driven by political motives. He added that practising Sanatana Dharma does not conflict with respect for other religions and said true secularism demands equal treatment of all faiths, including Hinduism.