Dalits are attacked irrespective of their positions: Kharge

Bengaluru, 8 Oct

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday claimed that there is no respect for Dalit citizens under the present Central Government, irrespective of whether it is an ordinary person or someone who holds a high position. He was referring to a recent incident where a lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai in the Supreme Court, and the alleged lynching of a man from the Valmiki community in Uttar Pradesh.

Kharge demanded punitive action against those who want to snatch away the fundamental rights of the people in the name of "Manusmriti and Sanatana Dharma", and disturb peace in society.

"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 late, our Prime Minister too has condemned it," Kharge said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the government should take strict action against the person who tried to insult the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court in the name of religion and on the basis of an ideology to destroy society.

Kharge also condemned the lynching of a man from the Valmiki community in the Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh and said that it shows the extent to which the law and order in Uttar Pradesh has deteriorated. “If the man had committed anything wrong, a case could have been registered and got him arrested, instead of people taking the law into their hands,” he added.

Citing both incidents, the AICC chief claimed that the Dalit citizens, be it an ordinary person or someone who holds a high position -- "there is no respect under this government." PTI

Ex-police top cop praises lawyer who hurled shoe at CJI 

Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao has praised advocate Rakesh Kishore, who had attempted to hurl a shoe at the Chief Justice of India B R Gavai. 

"Even if it is legally & terribly wrong, I admire your courage, at your age, to take a stand and live by it, irrespective of consequences," Rao said on Tuesday in a post on ‘X’.

The post enraged many ‘X’ users. Expressing shock, Nitin Seshadri said, "Sir I didn't expect this from you. Wasn't this similar to the language used to defend Nathuram Godse & Narayan Apte in their trials?"

One user tagged the Bengaluru police saying, "@BlrCityPolice, you need to act upon this tweet!" Rao later apologised in a subsequent social media post on Wednesday.

"My reaction was one of aghast and shock that a person, despite being so highly educated, aged and experienced such an action knowing fully the consequences of a terribly and legally wrong act. I have not insulted the Supreme Court, nor Chief Justice or any Community. If my tweet has angered or hurt, I am sorry," the retired IPS officer said.

Call for judicial probe into attack on CJI

Ramesh Babu, MLC and Chairman of the KPCC Media & Communication Department, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order a judicial inquiry into a casteist and inflammatory attack on the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India by a self-proclaimed ‘Sanatani’ advocate. In a strongly worded petition, Babu criticised the PM’s lack of concrete action, warning that mere condemnation is insufficient.

He demanded a probe by a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge, immediate arrest under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Contempt of Courts Act, and a public assurance reaffirming the government’s commitment to secular, democratic values. He also called for a ban on the misuse of religious identity to threaten constitutional institutions.

Babu stressed that inaction would embolden ideological groups, warning that Sanatanis are unwilling to accept a Dalit as Chief Justice.