A visibly emotional Rajesh Ram, the president of the Congress party’s Bihar unit, condemned the incident in which a shoe was thrown at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai, saying in a press conference on Tuesday that it was not just an attack on an individual, but on the very foundations of India’s democracy, the Constitution, and the principles of social justice. Ram, a prominent Dalit leader in Bihar, said the Chief Justice had been targeted in a toxic and hate-filled campaign for several days. He alleged that it was fuelled by individuals sharing the RSS and BJP’s ideology, and claimed that the shoe-throwing incident was the culmination of such rhetoric. The Congress MLA from the Kutumba seat said people from marginalised communities, particularly Dalits, continue to face societal and institutional discrimination. “Justice Gavai, a person from a Dalit family, has risen to the highest judicial office in the country based on merit. Yet, some sections still refuse to accept his position,” Ram said. Holding back tears, he said, “Today, we are hurt by this matter. We know how much pain and suffering it takes for us to reach such heights in society, and even after that, there is still no acceptance in this society… There is no experience worse than this for a Dalit. We always face discrimination and bias, even inside the House, and we are still enduring it today. There are many incidents where, even today, Dalits are being beaten every day in villages and homes. This pain belongs to all those Dalits who are identifying themselves with Justice Gavai’s attack. This attack on the Supreme Court is, in fact, an insult to millions of Dalits, and there can be no greater example of this.” He also said that in certain regions, a visit by Justice Gavai has been met with hostility by local elites. “When Justice Gavai first visited, people with feudal mindsets refused to even welcome him," Ram said, adding, “This reflects the age-old discrimination faced by Dalits in our society.” “This attack is a direct blow to the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive. The BJP's and RSS's agenda is clear. They are attempting to undermine institutions that uphold justice and equality,” he alleged. Ram further warned that any attempt to weaken the judiciary would be met with resistance. “The BJP may try to weaken the Constitution, but they will not succeed. We will defend the values that Baba Saheb Ambedkar enshrined in the Constitution,” he said, adding that his party would not let such attacks on the judiciary go unchallenged. “Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, we will ensure that the judiciary remains free from any harassment or intimidation,” Ram said.
