A day after attempting to hit Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai with a shoe, 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore spoke out, defending his actions and listing grievances that led to the incident. Despite being released after the CJI chose not to press charges, Kishore said he felt “no remorse” and claimed his act was driven by “divine guidance.”
Kishore, a resident of Delhi’s Mayur Vihar, said his main objection was to the Supreme Court’s stance against “bulldozer justice” — a term associated with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s demolition drives against alleged rioters and illegal structures. Speaking to ANI, he asked, “If Yogi ji’s bulldozer action against people occupying government land in Bareilly was wrong, then what is justice?”
The lawyer criticized CJI Gavai’s earlier comments in Mauritius, where he warned that the government could not act as “judge, jury, and executioner.” Kishore argued that those remarks undermined strong administrative action and the principle of accountability.
He also took aim at the CJI’s remarks during a recent case about restoring a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho, claiming that dismissing the plea was “an injustice” and the final trigger for his protest. “It was my reaction to his action. I am not fearful and have no regrets,” Kishore stated.
In a controversial remark, he questioned the CJI’s Dalit identity, saying, “He was a Sanatani Hindu before adopting Buddhism. If he left Hinduism, how is he still a Dalit?” Kishore added that his protest was not about caste but about defending “Sanatani values,” urging Hindus not to “remain silent” when their identity was under threat.
While his actions drew limited online support, they were broadly condemned by the public and political leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also commented, saying such attacks have “no place in a civilized society.”