The shocking incident of a shoe being thrown at Chief Justice of India (CJI)’s bench more specifically at Justice BR Gavai was an act rightly condemned by every sensible Indian. But rather than focusing on the attack itself and the need for securing our highest judicial institution, Left-leaning portal ‘The Wire’ chose to turn it into an agenda piece targeting Hindus, falsely portraying this as a “climax of a Hindu right-wing campaign”.
This narrative is not just dishonest but deeply dangerous.
Let’s be clear:
1. Hindus Do Not Endorse Violence, In Principle and in Practice
The act of throwing a shoe at any judge, let alone the Chief Justice’s bench, is condemnable and indefensible. Hinduism, unlike the image ‘The Wire’ tries to paint, has never promoted political violence or personal attacks—even in the face of mockery or suppression. Our spiritual philosophy, rooted in dialogue (Shastrarth), not destruction, is being deliberately misrepresented.
One man’s reckless action, however misguided, cannot be attributed to an entire religion or its adherents. The shoe-throwing lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, acted alone, and he is now facing suspension and likely prosecution.
2. Hindus Unanimously Condemn the Attack on CJI Gavai
Numerous voices within the Hindu community, including religious leaders and legal experts, have already come forward to condemn this unruly behavior. There is no celebration, no justification, and certainly no mass movement endorsing violence against the judiciary as ‘The Wire’ slyly implies.
3. Hindus Oppose Anti-Hindu Remarks, But Through Legal Means
The incident stems from a controversial remark made by Justice Gavai during a case about a damaged idol of Lord Vishnu. His comment, “Go ask God yourself,” was widely viewed as insensitive and dismissive of genuine religious sentiment. But being offended doesn’t give anyone license to attack and Hindus know that.
What ‘The Wire’ conveniently leaves out is that many Hindu individuals and groups responded not with violence, but with petitions, legal notices, hashtags, and peaceful appeals. Yes, some social media commentary may have been harsh, but to equate that with orchestrated violence is disingenuous.
4. The Left Loved Shoe-Throwing Until It Wasn’t Against Their Targets
It is amusing, if not hypocritical, to see ‘The Wire’ now suddenly discovering its moral compass. When George W. Bush had a shoe thrown at him in 2008, many on the Left including Indian commentators glorified it as “speaking truth to power”. Likewise, when P. Chidambaram faced a similar incident, it was spun as “public rage against corruption.”
So why is it suddenly terrorism when a shoe is thrown at Justice Gavai?
Let’s be honest: The issue isn’t about the act it’s about who the target is. If the shoe is aimed at a Left-friendly figure, it’s “people’s protest”; if the target is someone perceived as anti-Hindu, it’s extremism. The double standard is glaring.
5. ‘The Wire’ Must Stop Its Relentless Hindu Bashing
Instead of protecting the dignity of the court, ‘The Wire’ uses the opportunity to vilify Hindu voices who are simply asking for respect towards their faith. Whether it’s Ajit Bharti or Kaushlesh Rai, these individuals are being accused of inciting hate merely for criticizing what they see as judicial insensitivity.
Their words may be provocative at times, but none of them endorsed or encouraged the shoe-throwing act. To suggest otherwise without evidence is classic defamation masquerading as journalism.
‘The Wire’ does not hesitate to smear entire communities with the actions of a few, but would never apply the same logic elsewhere. If a Muslim or Christian were offended by a court statement, would The Wire reduce their entire community to “radical mobs”?
Why is Hindu outrage always treated as “communalism” or “extremism”?
6. Attacking the Judiciary Must Not Be Politicized
The judiciary is the final protector of our constitutional rights. An attack on it—physical or verbal—must be dealt with firmly and impartially. But when Left publications like ‘The Wire’ twist such incidents to stoke communal divisions, they themselves erode the judiciary’s credibility.
The only focus should be:
Ensuring the attacker is punished,
Evaluating judicial sensitivity when it comes to religious matters,
Preserving the sanctity and impartiality of courts.
Instead, what we get is a poorly disguised propaganda piece, making it appear as though a “Hindu uprising” is underway, fueled by blind devotion. This is not only factually wrong, but insulting to millions of law-abiding, peace-loving Hindus.
One man’s outburst does not define a community. Just like the actions of a terrorist don’t represent all Muslims, or a scammer doesn’t represent all Christians, a shoe-throwing lawyer doesn’t represent Hindus. ‘The Wire’ would do well to remember that, and stop using isolated events to justify its persistent, obsessive Hindu-bashing.
It is not journalism when you try to paint religious sentiment as fanaticism and peaceful protest as extremism.
Hindus do not support any attack on judiciary;
Hindus condemn Justice Gavai’s attack clearly;
Hindus oppose anti-Hindu statements, but through peaceful means;
Left-leaning media like ‘The Wire’ must stop using such incidents to defame Hindu society;
Hypocrisy of the Left on shoe-throwing reveals ideological bias not concern for law or order.
Let’s demand accountability but from everyone. Not just Hindus.
