New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai, which occurred earlier today within the Supreme Court premises. The Prime Minister expressed his outrage, stating that the incident has "angered every Indian" and emphasized that such actions have no place in a civilized society.
The incident involved an advocate who attempted to throw a shoe at CJI Gavai during court proceedings. Following the event, the individual was apprehended by security personnel. Reports indicate the advocate shouted, "India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma" while being escorted out of the courtroom.
Prime Minister Modi communicated with CJI Gavai to personally convey his condemnation and express solidarity. In a statement released on X, Modi lauded the Chief Justice for maintaining his composure and continuing with the proceedings despite the disruption. "I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation. It highlights his commitment to the values of justice and strengthening the spirit of our Constitution," the Prime Minister stated.
CJI Gavai remained unfazed by the attack and calmly urged the lawyers to continue with the case at hand. "Don't get distracted by all this. These things do not affect me. Continue with the hearing," he said.
The advocate involved in the incident has been identified as Rakesh Kishore. Initial investigations suggest that Kishore was upset with remarks made by the CJI during a recent hearing concerning the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh. Kishore was later released after the Supreme Court Registrar declined to press charges. A note was recovered from Kishore that said, "Mera sandesh har sanatani ke...", which roughly translates to "My message to every Sanatani...".
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also condemned the attack, calling it "an assault on the dignity of our judiciary and the spirit of our Constitution". He further emphasized that "such hatred has no place in our nation and must be condemned".
