The Shoe That Spoke: Silence Echoes in Bihar Politics

Congress MP Tanuj Punia criticised Bihar's NDA leaders—Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi—for their conspicuous silence on Monday's shocking attempt by a 71-year-old lawyer to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B. R. Gavai in the Supreme Court. Punia, a prominent Dalit face of the Congress from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, described the inaction as "inexplicable", especially from politicians who rely heavily on Dalit votes.

The incident, which occurred during routine proceedings in Court No. 1, stemmed from the lawyer's outrage over CJI Gavai's September 16 remarks dismissing a plea to restore a dilapidated Lord Vishnu idol at Madhya Pradesh's Khajuraho temple as "publicity interest litigation". Gavai, the second Dalit to lead the judiciary after Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, remained composed, stating, "These things do not affect me," before continuing the hearing. The Bar Council of India swiftly suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore, deeming his actions a violation of professional ethics under the Advocates Act, 1961.

Punia, addressing reporters in Patna, framed the attack as emblematic of the BJP-RSS's "deep-rooted casteist mindset", targeting a Dalit judge for his judicial decisions. He noted Paswan and Manjhi's own Dalit backgrounds alongside Kumar's OBC credentials, questioning their reluctance to condemn what he called a direct assault on constitutional dignity. The MP contrasted this with the NDA's electoral dependence on marginalised communities, accusing the alliance of sidelining Dalits in governance despite rhetoric.

Punia's remarks align with broader Congress criticism of NDA policies, positioning the upcoming Bihar assembly elections as a clash between "the shoe" (symbolising violence and casteism) and "the pen" (a nod to Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the Dalit architect of India's Constitution). This narrative gains traction amid heightened scrutiny of judicial independence, following the Supreme Court's recent clarifications on Gavai's temple remarks, where he affirmed respect for all religions amid social media backlash.

Escalating his attack on the NDA's 20-year rule in Bihar, Punia cited a National Sample Survey (NSS) report indicating that 19.15 lakh Dalit families—predominantly small and marginal farmers—rely on agriculture, yet earn less than ₹50 daily, perpetuating cycles of poverty. He claimed Bihar ranks second nationally in Dalit atrocities after Uttar Pradesh, referencing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data showing 6,799 cases in 2022 alone, a 13.16% share of India's total.

Punia alleged systemic neglect, with the NDA treating Dalits as mere "vote banks" while excluding them from policy-making. He further accused the central government of eroding social justice through PSU privatisation, estimating the loss of 4.8 lakh reserved posts for SCs, STs, and OBCs—a concern echoed in parliamentary debates since 2021, where officials admitted such disinvestments could end quotas in privatised entities.

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Punia lauded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a genuine advocate for Dalits and oppressed classes, emphasising Gandhi's commitment to Ambedkarite principles over symbolic gestures. As Bihar braces for polls amid caste arithmetic, Punia's salvo highlights deepening rifts, with the Mahagathbandhan (including Congress) leveraging social justice to counter the NDA's development agenda. The controversy over CJI Gavai's attack has united opposition voices, including those from the Samajwadi Party, in demanding stricter safeguards for judicial figures from marginalised backgrounds, potentially influencing voter mobilisation in Dalit-heavy constituencies.

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