The attempt to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai during Supreme Court proceedings on Monday has ignited a firestorm of condemnation from opposition leaders, who branded the act a direct assault on the Constitution and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy. The incident has drawn sharp rebukes from parties including Congress, CPI, CPI(M), NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, and others, with many pointing fingers at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for fostering a climate of hate and impunity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi later spoke to Gavai, condemning the act as “utterly reprehensible” and asserting it angered every Indian. However, the Congress had earlier criticized Modi’s initial silence, with leader Pawan Khera questioning, “Does this silence indicate his tacit approval of the attack?” before the PM’s response.

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Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge called the incident “unprecedented, shameful, and abhorrent,” while Sonia Gandhi described it as an attack on the Constitution itself, urging national solidarity with the CJI. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, labeled it an assault on judicial dignity, stating, “Such hatred has no place in our nation.” The party attributed the act to a “culture of impunity and hatred” encouraged by the BJP, with K C Venugopal linking it to the ruling party’s divisive rhetoric.

Other leaders echoed the outrage. NCP-SP’s Sharad Pawar termed it a “grave insult” to the Constitution, while Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Priyanka Chaturvedi and independent MP Kapil Sibal decried the attack as a stain on judicial majesty. CPI(M) and CPI leaders D Raja and the Politburo slammed it as a product of “Manuvadi and communal venom,” with Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav calling it an “arrogant insult” targeting both the judiciary and marginalized communities.

The BJP, through spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, condemned the act as contrary to India’s constitutional traditions, asserting it “hurt every Indian.” BSP’s Mayawati called it “extremely unfortunate,” demanding strong action. The incident, involving the first Dalit CJI, has amplified concerns over rising communal tensions and the safety of constitutional figures, with opposition leaders warning of a broader erosion of institutional trust driven by divisive ideologies. As the nation reels, calls for accountability and unity intensify to safeguard India’s democratic pillars.

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