‘No Dignity For Dalits Under BJP-Led Govt’
On October 6, Rakesh Kishore, a 71-year-old advocate, attempted to hurl a shoe towards CJI B.R. Gavai (above) during a hearing in Supreme Court
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has sharply criticized the BJP-led Union government, asserting that Dalit citizens receive no dignity under its rule, whether they are ordinary people or hold high office. His remarks were triggered by two recent incidents: an attempt by a lawyer to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai in the Supreme Court, and the alleged lynching of a man from the Valmiki community in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh.
Kharge demanded strict punishment for those invoking “Manusmriti and Sanatana Dharma” to undermine fundamental rights and disrupt social harmony. “A person claiming to be a lawyer has attempted to hurl a shoe towards the chief justice of India taking the name of a religion. I have condemned it personally, also on behalf of the party. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi (Congress leaders) have also condemned it. Though belatedly, our prime minister too has condemned it,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
The shoe-throwing incident unfolded dramatically in court, where an elderly lawyer, shouting “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (we will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma),” lunged toward CJI Gavai. Widely condemned as unprecedented and shocking, the act has spotlighted rising tensions around caste and ideology.
Kharge urged the government to act decisively against the perpetrator, whom he accused of using religion and ideology to “undermine society.” He expressed deep disappointment over the muted national response, noting, “I’m saying with sadness that the kind of reaction after this incident that came from the lawyers, governments, political parties was not on a large scale, but some progressive states, also progressive-thinking advocates and political party leaders have condemned it.”
Turning to the Raebareli lynching, Kharge decried it as a stark indicator of Uttar Pradesh’s crumbling law and order. The victim, from the marginalized Valmiki community, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob. “If the individual had committed an offence, legal proceedings should have been initiated rather than people taking the law into their own hands,” Kharge stated, emphasizing that such vigilante justice erodes societal fabric.
Linking the two events, Kharge argued that they exemplify systemic disrespect toward Dalits. “We have to fight, instead of staying quiet — if a person who is occupying the post of a chief justice is insulted by hurling a shoe at him, what will be the condition of a common man or an officer or clerk?” he questioned. He accused certain organizations of promoting a dehumanizing mindset that also diminishes women’s status, warning that these elements aim to “snatch away the fundamental rights of the people.”
“Those unnecessarily trying to disturb peace in society should be punished,” he added firmly.
Kharge’s outburst comes amid broader political debates on caste atrocities and social justice. The Congress leader called for a united front against divisive forces, underscoring the need to protect constitutional values. As opposition voices grow louder, the incidents have reignited discussions on governance, equality, and the rule of law in India.
