Lawyer Who Tried to Hurl Shoe at CJI Knew He’d Face No Consequences: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar, Oct 7: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that the lawyer who attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B. R. Gavai did so with “brazen confidence,” knowing he would face no real consequences for his act.
Taking to X, Mufti said the incident reflected “a chilling picture” of what she described as the BJP’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“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,” she wrote.
The former chief minister added that such actions had become “the new normal” in the country.
“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,” Mufti said.
She further questioned whether the judiciary would stand up for constitutional values in such a situation.
“The question now before the court is not just legal but existential. 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 a day after a 71-year-old lawyer, Rakesh Kishor, allegedly tried to throw his shoe at CJI Gavai during Supreme Court proceedings. Security personnel intervened quickly and prevented the attack.
As he was being escorted out, the lawyer shouted, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate insult of Sanatan Dharma).
