India’s Shoegate—Anti-Sikh riots haunt congress again

A Sikh journalist today hurled a shoe, at Home Minister P Chidambaram ,a gesture to exhibit his protest against home ministry and Congress party in particular protesting against CBI's clean chit to senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

As the action caused a flutter in the hall, trying to make a brave face Chidambaram appealed to the reporters, "let not the action of one emotional person hijack the entire press conference. I have answered his questions to the best of my ability."

The press conference was being held at the Congress headquarters where Chidambaram was presenting his party's report card on terrorism. The journalist asked the minister whether letting Tytler off the hook ahead of the elections was not politically motivated.

To which Chidambaram replied that CBI had only presented a report to the court and it was up to the court to either accept or reject it. The journalist wanted to ask another question but Chidambaram said he did not want to get into an argument and refused to take further questions.

As the journalist persisted with his questions, Chidambaram told him "no arguments, you are using this forum..." following which the journalist threw his shoe saying-“I Protest”.

It must be added here that the gesture of throwing the shoe had a clear intent of exhibiting the anger and protest and not hurting P Chidambram as is evident from the news clips. After all the distance between Jarnail Singh and PC was barely few meters.

An unapologetic Singh said he will not apologise for his action, though his manner of protest might have been wrong.

"My manner of protest might have been wrong, but I did not intend to hurt anyone," he said. He alsomade it categorically clear that he is not against any party, he is just upset with the CBI’s decision.

Asked if he could have used some other manner to protest, he said, "For the last 25 years this has been happening. So what other method is left (to protest)". Earlier this month, CBI had given a clean chit to 1984 anti-Sikh riots accused Tytler and sought permission from the court for the closure of the case against the Congress leader.

It is the first of its kind incident in India but throwing shoes at political leaders has become a high-profile form of protest. The trend was started by an Iraqi journalist who had thrown shoes at former US President George Bush at a press conference in Baghdad last year.

The incident also caught congress on the wrong foot as firstly it criticized the journalist and after an hour or so, the clarification came that the home ministry or the congress party won’t press any charges against Jarnail Singh. Mean while the SGPC Delhi has started protests march against the congress party and Jagadish Tytler. While BJP must have been enjoying TV footages of the incident, it also provides an opportunity to the congress party to self introspect who have always believed in the minority reforms and slamming Modis and Advanis on the minority issues.

Then Prime Minister of Rajiv Gandhi, made a statement at Boat Club in New Delhi on 19 November 1984, on the birthday of Indira Gandhi, "Some riots took place in the country following the murder of Indiraji. We know the people were very angry and for a few days it seemed that India had been shaken. But, when a mighty tree falls, it is only natural that the earth around it does shake a little. The remarks were deemed as insensitive by many. Rajiv Gandhi's widow, Sonia Gandhi and current President of the Congress Party, officially apologized in 1998 for the events of November, 1984.

Updates--Dainik Jagran journalist Jarnail Singh has apologised for his act and said that my action shall not ignite the feeling of hatred against anyone and no journalist shall do repeat of what I have done. However he sticked to his stance saying that, the manner in which he protested might be wrong but the issue is just.