‘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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Vijayendra slams Cong govt over alleged medicine shortage, irregularities in health dept
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday hit out at the Congress government over alleged medicine shortages, large-scale irregularities and disruption of services in the health department.
The situation had deteriorated to such an extent that doctors were forced to protest on the streets, he claimed.
Addressing a press conference here, he said the Siddaramaiah-led government lacked the will to resolve pressing public issues and accused it of indulging in "blame politics" instead of governance.
"Due to the irresponsibility of this Congress government, the health department itself is in the ICU. There is a severe shortage of medicines in government hospitals. The 108 ambulance services are facing severe problems. Doctors have been pushed to the streets to protest. The Congress government celebrates 1,000 days in power with achievement conventions, but it has failed to solve real problems," he said.
He criticised the state government for allegedly shutting down Jan Aushadhi centres located on government hospital premises, claiming that needy patients are suffering as they are not getting medicines.
"For the past two months, government doctors themselves have been advising poor patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies because medicines are unavailable in hospitals," he alleged.
Vijayendra further alleged that the state government has reportedly not cleared Rs 143 crore in dues to institutions providing CT scan and MRI services.
"As a result, needy patients in rural and urban areas are unable to access these services. Pregnant women are facing hardships. Doctors are forced to protest on the streets...This government claims to be one that delivers on its promises. But does it have even the slightest concern for how poor people are struggling in the healthcare sector," he alleged.
The BJP state president claimed that the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and its deputy D K Shivakumar is not pro-poor; instead, it is a government that supports middlemen.
"Who is responsible for the medicine shortage in government hospitals and medical colleges? The state government and the concerned ministers are responsible. According to information available to me, under pressure from influential individuals, irregularities are taking place in medicine procurement. Instead of purchasing medicines through authorised central and state agencies, the government has moved to fragmented district- and taluk-level tenders," he claimed.
He further alleged that due to commission demands of 15-20 per cent, many companies and public enterprises are not participating in tenders, worsening the system.
Vijayendra claimed that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation's procurement system has been sidelined, leading to an artificial shortage of medicines.
He also alleged that a private individual from Mangaluru is controlling the state's medicine procurement system, supplying medicines to most government hospitals.
"This has led to market prices being inflated. Medicines costing Rs 100 are reportedly being purchased for Rs 300. I will provide more documents and evidence in the coming days," he claimed.
He also alleged that staff associated with the 108 ambulance services have not been paid salaries for the past eight to nine months.
"The government must take responsibility and reform the system instead of protecting middlemen," he added.
