Spit on CJI Gavai’s face, stop his car: RSS Ideologue T.G. Mohandas sparks outrage
Thiruvananthapuram: RSS ideologue and former BJP Intellectual Cell convener T.G. Mohandas has sparked outrage by urging people to “spit in the face of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and block his car.” His inflammatory remarks came shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking the restoration of a damaged idol of Lord Vishnu at the Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel Patrika on September 30 — titled “God Punished Gavai" — Mohandas said that spitting at the Chief Justice would only result in “six months’ imprisonment,” claiming that “no Hindu was willing to do even that.” He added that even blocking the Chief Justice’s vehicle would not invite serious punishment, arguing that those detained “would be released by evening.”
Mohandas’s statements were in response to remarks made by Chief Justice Gavai while dismissing the public interest litigation on September 16. The bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, had described the petition as one filed “for publicity,” noting that the issue fell under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), not the Supreme Court.
“Go and ask God himself to do something. You say you’re a great devotee of Vishnu — then pray to him. This is an archaeological site, and only the ASI can give permission. Sorry,” Justice Gavai had told the petitioner.
The comments triggered anger among Hindutva groups, which accused the Chief Justice of “mocking” Hindu faith. Mohandas escalated the issue by accusing Gavai of “disrespecting Lord Vishnu” and demanded that he “apologize and withdraw his words.”
“The Chief Justice said he respects all religions. Who asked for that? He insulted Lord Vishnu and must admit his mistake,” Mohandas said in the video, insisting that showing respect to the office of the Chief Justice does not mean tolerating “blasphemous remarks.”
Mohandas further mocked the CJI’s meeting with President Droupadi Murmu after the controversy, alleging that social media users had “discovered” that the shoes Gavai wore in a photo cost ₹80,000.
Concluding his tirade, Mohandas said, “Even if no one respects Gavai, nothing will happen to Hindu society. But as Chief Justice, he should have had the decency not to utter such nonsense. If it was a slip of the tongue, he should apologize. We don’t need his honor or his arrogance.”
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the plea concerned a seven-foot-tall Vishnu idol at the Javari temple within the Khajuraho complex, which the petitioner had sought to have repaired. The court maintained that the matter lay within ASI’s administrative purview, not the judiciary’s.
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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.
