NEW DELHI: INDIA Bloc’s vice presidential candidate, former Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy, on Saturday said that his foremost priority after assuming office would be to protect and defend the Constitution of India — calling it the highest duty of the Vice President.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Justice Reddy answered a wide range of questions, from whether political arithmetic is in his favour, to his views on the TDP siding with the NDA, and the recent criticism from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
IANS: After becoming Vice President, what will be your first priority?
Justice Reddy: I could talk about my priorities for an hour, but my first and foremost priority will be to protect and defend the Constitution of India. That is the biggest duty of the Vice President.
IANS: Do you think the arithmetic favours you? Is the majority in your favour? Are you fighting for victory or is this fight more symbolic?
Justice Reddy: I don't think there's anything symbolic about this contest. That's a misunderstanding. In Parliament, while we see the numbers of parties, the actual voters are individual Members of Parliament. I appeal to each MP to consider my candidature. Rather than appealing to political parties, I appeal to individual MPs to take an appropriate and conscious decision.
IANS: The TDP will be choosing the NDA’s vice presidential pick. They’re not ready to support the Congress candidate. What do you say to that?
Justice Reddy: Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu know me well, and I know them too. They haven’t explicitly stated that they’ll support the NDA candidate. They’ve only said that they are part of the NDA and have to go with them. Let’s see what happens.
IANS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is calling you a supporter of Naxalites. What’s your response?
Justice Reddy: I have not done anything in the past that would make anyone label me as a supporter of Naxalism. Amit Shah is referring to a particular judgment — but that wasn’t even my judgment. I merely authored it, and it was a judgment of the Supreme Court. Three attempts were made to nullify it, all of which failed. A review petition was filed and also dismissed. So, calling me a Naxalite supporter has no basis. I won’t say much — he is the Union Home Minister. Perhaps he didn’t get the chance to read the full judgment. Maybe someone briefed him incorrectly or they are trying to build a certain narrative.