PDP Chief Says Lawyer Who Tried to Throw Shoe at CJI Acted Knowing He’d Face No Consequences
PDP chief slams growing intolerance, says attacker acted knowing he would face no real consequences
Srinagar, Oct 7: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that the recent shoe attack attempt on Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai symbolised a disturbing picture of the country under the BJP’s vision of “Viksit Bharat.”
Taking to X, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister claimed the attacker acted with complete confidence that he would face no real consequences. “A shoe hurled at Chief Justice B R Gavai offers a chilling picture of what BJP’s Viksit Bharat will look like by 2047. The attacker acted with brazen confidence knowing well that there would be no real consequences for his deplorable act,” Mufti wrote.
She described the incident as a reflection of the “new normal” in the country, where intolerance and hate have been normalised. “This is the new normal in Godse’s Bharat where mob lynchers are garlanded, rapists are pardoned and hate is rewarded. After all, he is not Umar Khalid or Sharjeel Imam imprisoned for years without bail for expressing dissent,” she added.
Questioning the judiciary’s response, Mufti said the situation now posed an existential challenge rather than a legal one. “Will the judiciary rise to defend the Constitution or remain silent as it is being trampled under the shoe quite literally?” she asked.
The remarks came after a 71 year old lawyer, Rakesh Kishor, allegedly tried to hurl a shoe at CJI Gavai during court proceedings on Monday. The attempt was thwarted by alert security personnel who quickly intervened. As Kishor was being escorted out, he reportedly shouted, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate insult of Sanatan Dharma).
