Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Opposition INDIA bloc’s Vice Presidential nominee, retired Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy, accusing him of supporting Maoist insurgency through his judicial decisions.
Speaking at a public event in Kochi, Shah referred to Justice Reddy’s landmark 2011 judgement on Salwa Judum, a controversial state-backed anti-Maoist initiative in Chhattisgarh, which he claimed weakened the fight against Naxalism and emboldened extremist groups.
Justice Reddy’s 2011 ruling had declared the arming of tribal civilians as Special Police Officers (SPOs) unconstitutional, ordering the disbandment of such groups.
The judgment called on the state to uphold lawful governance and address the root causes of insurgency, rather than relying on vigilante-style militias.
“Sudershan Reddy is the person who helped Naxalism. He gave the Salwa Judum judgment. Had that not happened, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020,” said the Home Minister.
He added that the Congress-led alliance, under pressure from its Left-leaning partners, had nominated a candidate ‘who supported Naxalism using a forum like the Supreme Court’.
Kerala Politics in Focus
Shah linked his remarks to the political context in Kerala, where the Left Democratic Front (LDF) leads the state government.
Kerala, he said, has seen ‘suffering’ due to Left-wing extremist ideas. He urged voters to evaluate what he called the dangerous implications of the Opposition’s choice.
The Vice Presidential election will be held on September 9. Justice Reddy is contesting against NDA’s nominee and current Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, following the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Justice Reddy, who served on the Supreme Court until 2011, was part of several key constitutional benches. His Salwa Judum judgment, while lauded by human rights advocates for defending constitutional rights, has long been criticised by proponents of stronger counterinsurgency measures.
Analysts say Shah’s remarks aim to frame the upcoming Vice Presidential election as an ideological clash between national security and civil liberties.
The BJP is positioning itself as a bulwark against insurgency, while casting doubt on the Opposition’s commitment to internal security.
Earlier in the day, Amit Shah held a closed-door meeting with BJP Kerala leaders. He reportedly urged them to aim for a 25% vote share in the upcoming local body elections expected in December, signalling the party’s continued focus on expanding its presence in the southern state.
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