“Are You Warning Me Or Defining The Limits Of My Speech?”: Amit Shah’s Sharp Opening At Tushar Mehta Book Launch

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday delivered a carefully layered speech at the launch of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s two books, mixing humour, constitutional commentary, institutional messaging and personal warmth, all while ensuring the spotlight remained on the author and his literary venture.

The sharpest moment of the evening came right at the beginning, when Shah revealed that someone had cautioned him earlier in the day about how his remarks would be interpreted.

“Someone appropriately advised me this morning that my speech would not be viewed merely as that of Tushar Mehta’s old friend… it would be seen through the prism of judiciary-government relations,” Shah said.

“I asked him — are you warning me, or trying to define the limits of my speech?” he added, drawing laughter from the audience.

However, Shah immediately clarified that he had no intention of turning the event controversial.

“There are many forums where I can speak fearlessly and critically. Today, I do not want to drag this important occasion for Tushar Mehta into controversy,” he remarked.

The Home Minister then moved into a broader reflection on the Indian constitutional framework, emphasising that institutions were created not to confront one another but to “balance one another.”

“The executive takes decisions. The judiciary constitutionally reviews them. Our Constitution-makers drafted the Constitution with the spirit of maintaining dialogue, dignity and balance,” Shah said.

“The strength of democracy does not come from confrontation. It comes from institutional balance and mutual dignity,” he added.

Yet Shah also hinted at future remarks on the legal system, stating: “I have decided that in the near future, on some forum or another, I will definitely present my views candidly.”

The speech repeatedly returned to Mehta’s personality beyond the courtroom, with Shah describing him as someone deeply immersed in literature and Urdu poetry.

“Anyone who is friends with Tushar Mehta would know that he can effortlessly send you countless Urdu couplets, poetry and ghazals,” Shah said.

In a notable moment, Shah jokingly suggested that Mehta’s “courage was only half complete” because the Solicitor General had consciously avoided writing about Indian courts in his books.

“That statement would have been truly justified had he written these observations about Indian courts as well,” Shah quipped.

Shah also praised the books for forcing institutional introspection through humour.

“Whenever we become part of any system, we slowly begin to develop a self-centric way of thinking… But when such neutral reflection comes before us, it gives us an opportunity to introspect about ourselves, our institutions and our field as a whole,” he said.

One of the more substantive portions of Shah’s address focused on the future challenges artificial intelligence may pose to the judiciary and legal profession, themes explored in Mehta’s writing.

“Technology and justice certainly need to be harmonised. But the warnings contained in the book are also important,” Shah observed, adding with a smile that he wished Mehta had also included “some warnings for law clerks.”

Ending on a personal note, Shah praised Mehta for dedicating the books to his mother and noted the symbolism of the launch taking place on Mother’s Day.

“In India, every day is Mother’s Day,” Shah said, recalling how many people of his generation never stepped outside their homes without touching their mother’s feet.

The event marked the launch of Mehta’s two books — The Bench, The Bar and The Bizarre and The Lawful and The Awful — in the presence of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, senior judges, lawyers, and members of the legal fraternity.