Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he has attempted to work within the limits set by the Constitution of India and has not encroached the space of the other wings of governance.
Modi was speaking at an event organised at the Supreme Court to commemorate 75 years of India's Constitution.
"Samvidan ne mujhe jo kaam diya hai, maine usi maryada main rehne ka prayas kiya hai. Maine koi encroachment ki koshish nai ki hai...(I have tried to work within the limits of the task assigned to me by the Constitution. I have not attempted any encroachment)," PM Modi said.
Though Modi did not elaborate on his comment, he also said,
"Maine apne maryaadaon ko sambhalte hue apni baat ko rakha hai. Yahan tou ishara hi karna hota ha,i zyada kuch kehne ki zarurat nai houti hai (I have put forward my point while being within my limits. Here one only has to hint, there is no need to say much)."
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant were present at the event.
Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, Union Minister of State for Law Arjun Ram Meghwal, Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra were also in attendance.
Modi in his speech also highlighted the progress made by India in recent years. Further, he reminded the audience of the anniversary of the 26/11 attacks.
"We cannot forget the anniversary of the terror attack on Mumbai. I pay my tributes to those who lost their lives in that attack. I want to reiterate the nation's conviction that each terror group challenging India's security will be given a jaw breaking response," Modi said.
CJI Khanna in his speech earlier stressed that each branch of the government must honour the constitutionally-assigned distinct role while nurturing inter-institutional equilibrium.
"When properly understood, judicial independence serves not as a high wall, but as a bridge, catalysing the nourishing of the Constitution, fundamental rights and the governance framework," he said.