‘No remorse, God provoked me to do it,’ says lawyer who threw shoe at CJI Gavai
New Delhi: Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who hurled a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai during a Supreme Court hearing on Monday, has said he feels “no remorse” for his actions and claimed that “God provoked” him to do it, The New Indian Express reported.
According to the report, Kishore said, “No remorse, I did the right thing.” He further claimed, “I considered all the consequences… that I will be going to jail, that I will be suffering there… but it was in the name of God, because God was provoking me to do all this.”
The 71-year-old lawyer hurled his shoe at CJI Gavai during proceedings in Court Number 1 and was heard shouting, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma) as he was being taken away by security personnel.
Following the incident, the Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended Kishore, stating that his conduct was “inconsistent with the dignity of the court” and violated the Advocates Act, 1961, and Rules on Professional Conduct and Etiquette. However, as TNIE noted, no police case has been registered against him so far.
Despite the disruption, CJI Gavai remained composed and asked the lawyers in the courtroom to continue with the proceedings. “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” the Chief Justice reportedly said.
Kishore later alleged that the CJI had “humiliated Sanatan Dharma” during a recent hearing and while delivering a speech in Mauritius. His anger was reportedly linked to remarks made by the CJI while dismissing a plea seeking restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex. “Go and ask the deity itself to do something now,” the CJI had said during the hearing, a comment that triggered outrage on social media.
Addressing the controversy later, CJI Gavai clarified in open court that his statement was not intended to hurt any religious sentiments.
Several political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, strongly condemned the attack. Pawar described it as a “warning bell for the nation.”
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
