The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) on Tuesday staged protests in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, condemning an incident where a lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India, B R Gavai, reported the PTI.
The party called it a direct attack on the Constitution and democracy.
On Monday, the lawyer identified as Rakesh Kishore (71) attempted to hurl a shoe towards CJI Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court in New Delhi, prompting the Bar Council of India to suspend his license with immediate effect.
Kishore approached the dais on a raised platform, removed his shoe and tried to throw it towards the judges. Alert security personnel present inside the courtroom immediately intervened and foiled an apparent attack.
Several of NCP (SP) workers gathered at Hutatma Chowk in Mumbai, later moving towards Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue near Mantralaya. Police, however, reportedly denied permission for the planned march between the two points.
Senior party leaders, including Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Shashikant Shinde and Mumbai unit chief Rakhi Jadhav, raised slogans strongly criticising the incident, which occurred in the Supreme Court on Monday. Protesters held placards and banners defending the Constitution and hailing Dr Ambedkar’s legacy, according to the PTI.
Similar demonstrations were held in Baramati, led by NCP (SP) national working president Supriya Sule, and in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where MLA Rohit Pawar joined party workers in a protest. Pawar said the attack on CJI Gavai was effectively an attack on the Constitution itself.
“This is highly condemnable. BJP leaders, who are quick to comment on minor issues, remained silent for hours after this. What does that indicate?” Pawar asked.
Party spokesperson Mahesh Tapase added that the act was not just disrespectful to the Chief Justice but also an insult to democratic values. He alleged that the ruling BJP was trying to undermine independent institutions and replace the Constitution with the Manusmriti.
Meanwhile, The High Court Bar Association (HCBA), Nagpur, on Monday condemned the attempt to attack Chief Justice of India BR Gavai during court proceedings and called for immediate and exemplary action against the individual involved.
The Association described the incident as a direct assault on the institution of the judiciary.
HCBA president Atul Pande expressed the Association`s unequivocal and strongest condemnation of the “shameful and deplorable” act committed by a so-called member of the legal fraternity, who attempted to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice during court proceedings.
(with PTI inputs)
