'An assault on Constitution': Sonia Gandhi condemns 'attack' on CJI Gavai; urges solidarity

NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday condemned the “attack” on Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, saying it was not just an attack on him "but on the Constitution itself."

Also Read | 'Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahenge': Lawyer tries to hurl shoe towards CJI Gavai in SC; how he reacted

“No words are adequate to condemn the attack on the Honourable Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court itself. It is an assault not just on him, but on our Constitution as well,” the former Congress president said in an official statement.


She added that the CJI, who assumed office in May and whose term ends in November, had been “very gracious” despite the incident — apparently referring to his remark that “such things do not affect me.”


"The nation must stand in solidarity with him unitedly with a deep sense of anguish and outrage," Gandhi said.

Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described the incident as an "attack on the judiciary and rule of law."

"An attempt to attack the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court today is unprecedented, shameful and abhorrent. When a sitting Chief Justice who rose to the nation’s highest judicial office through merit, integrity, and perseverance — is targeted in such a manner, it sends a deeply disturbing message. It reflects an attempt to intimidate and humiliate a man who has broken social barriers to uphold the Constitution. Such mindless act shows how hate, fanaticism and bigotry has engulfed our society in the past decade. The safety and security of our Judiciary is paramount. Let justice and reason prevail, not intimidation," Kharge wrote on X.


'Attack' on CJI BR Gavai

The incident occurred during case-mentioning before a bench led by CJI Gavai, when a lawyer removed his shoe and attempted to throw it, shouting “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (we will not tolerate insult of Sanatan Dharma).” Security intervened swiftly and the courtroom was cleared of disruption.

Despite the provocation, CJI Gavai remained composed, urging the court not to be distracted and remarking, “These things do not affect me.”

Last month, a CJI-led bench had dismissed a plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

He then went on to make remarks that were widely criticised on social media.

"This is purely publicity interest litigation... Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation," he said.

Amid massive backlash, the Chief Justice later reaffirmed his "respect for all religions."

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