The Congress on Monday condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai as shameful and said the “mindless act” shows how hate and fanaticism have engulfed society.
The opposition party also termed the incident a shocking breach of decorum and a dangerous new low in India’s democratic history, claiming it to be an assault on the judiciary and the Constitution.
In a shocking breach of decorum, a 71-year-old lawyer allegedly almost hurled a shoe at CJI Gavai during a court proceeding, but was stopped by the security personnel. The Congress said this was not merely an attack on one individual but was the outcome of a sustained campaign to undermine institutions and intimidate dissenting voices.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in a statement, said that it was not just an attack on the CJI but on our Constitution. “No words are adequate to condemn the attack on the Honourable Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court itself. It is an assault not just on him but on our Constitution as well. Chief Justice Gavai has been very gracious but the nation must stand in solidarity with him unitedly with a deep sense of anguish and outrage,” she said.
In a post on X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the attack was an assault on the dignity of the judiciary and the spirit of the Constitution.
“Such hatred has no place in our nation and must be condemned,” he said.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “An attempt to attack the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court today is unprecedented, shameful and abhorrent. It is an attack on the dignity of our Judiciary and the rule of law.”
In a post on X, he said that it was disturbing that a sitting judge, who rose to the nation’s highest judicial office through merit, integrity, and perseverance, was targeted in such a manner.
“It reflects an attempt to intimidate and humiliate a man who has broken social barriers to uphold the Constitution.
“Such a mindless act shows how hate, fanaticism and bigotry has engulfed our society in the past decade,” the Congress president said.
“On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. The safety and security of our Judiciary is paramount. Let justice and reason prevail, not intimidation,” Kharge asserted.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday strongly condemned the incident in which a lawyer allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India Justice B R Gavai during court proceedings, calling it a stark reminder that “caste-based prejudice and Manuvaadi mindsets continue to persist.”
In a post on ‘X’, the chief minister urged that legal action be taken not only against the perpetrator but also against those who support or encourage such behaviour.
“I strongly condemn the incident in which a lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice B R Gavai. Immediate legal action must be taken against the unruly lawyer who sought to insult both the Chief Justice and the judiciary,” Siddaramaiah wrote.
Left parties on Monday condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, and demanded immediate action against the advocate who tried to hurl a shoe at him. The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) called the incident “yet another example of the Manuvadi and communal venom injected into society by Hindutva communal forces.”
“The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the act of throwing a shoe at the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai. It demands that immediate action be taken against the concerned advocate, who is registered with the Supreme Court Bar Association and has been apprehended,” the CPI(M) said in a statement.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India B R Gavai during court proceedings and said this “shameful act” deserved the strongest condemnation.
The manner in which the CJI responded with grace, calm, and magnanimity showed the strength of the institution, but that cannot make us take the incident lightly, he said.
“The reason revealed by the attacker for his act shows how deeply the oppressive and hierarchical mindset still lingers in our society,” the chief minister said in a post on ‘X’. “We must nurture a culture that respects and protects our institutions and demonstrates maturity in our conduct,” he further said.
The “shameful act” against the CJI inside the Supreme Court was “an attack on the highest judicial office of our democracy and deserves the strongest condemnation,” he said.
A 71-year-old lawyer allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice Gavai on Monday.
Reacting calmly to the incident, the CJI told lawyers, “don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” and he continued hearing the mentioning of cases.