Multiple FIRs Lodged in Panjab Over Caste Discrimination in Other States

On 6 Oct, a 71-year-old Supreme Court of India lawyer Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai in the court. The provocation was a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which sought to restore a dilapidated statue of Lord Vishnu in one of the UNESCO heritage sites in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. While dismissing the PIL as a stunt, Justice Gavai remarked, 'Go and ask the deity himself to do something.' The incident is being seen as an attack on the Constitution of India and on a Dalit (marginal caste) CJI by a follower of casteist Sanatan Dharama (ancient Hindu religion). While the Bar Council of India has suspended Kishore, no charges have been filed against him. The incident led to an uproar on social media with many supporting the lawyer. Following the receipt of numerous complaints from various districts on unlawful and objectionable social media content targeting the CJI, the Panjab Police have registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Similarly, on 9 Oct, the Ludhiana Police registered a FIR against partisan, rabble-rouser Aaj Tak television journalist Anjana Om Kashyap for allegedly insulting Lord Valmiki during a television debate. The FIR also names India Today group chairman and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie as well as Living Media India Ltd as accused. The FIR has been registered on the complaint of Chaudhary Yashpal, the national coordinator of a group—Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj Bhavadas. Meanwhile, on 7 Oct, Haryana cadre Indian Police Service officer Puran Kumar committed suicide. He had earlier complained about caste discrimination and left a suicide note naming 16 officers as responsible or his death. The Panjab unit of the Indian National Congress announced it will be holding candle marches demanding the immediate removal and arrest of Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Singh. On 12 Oct, Acting Jathedar (leader) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne) condemned the incident and said that the supreme Sikh authority stands firmly against casteism and any form of discrimination.