It was a high drama during Home Minister P Chidambaram's press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday when a journalist threw a shoe at the minister.
It was a high drama during Home Minister P Chidambaram's press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday when a journalist threw a sport shoe (size 8)u00a0at the minister.
Chidambaram was addressing journalists at the Congress headquarters on terror and the party's policies to deal with them, when the incident occurred.
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The Home Minister was referring to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots when Jarnail Singh, a Sikh correspondent from Hindi daily Dainik Jagaran, asked him a question regarding the CBI clean-chit to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.
When Chidambaram averted the question, Jarnail Singh threw a shoe at him. The minister dodged and the shoe narrowly missed him.
Chidambaram regained his composure almost immediately, asking the reporters to not get distracted.
"Let not the action of one emotional person hijack the entire press conference. I have answered his questions to the best of my ability," he said.
"Please take him away," the minister said, later adding, "gently, gently" as Congress party workers immediately took the white-turbaned journalist out.
He was taken away by police but was later let off and no case was registered against him.
It all started with the journalist asking him about the clean chit given by CBI to Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case under pressure from the government.
"First of all let me make it clear that CBI is not under the Home Ministry. To my knowledge neither the Home Ministry nor any ministry of the government had put any pressure on the CBI," Chidambaram said.
"CBI has only given a report to the court. It is for the court to accept or reject or ask for further investigation by CBI. Let us wait for the court decision," he said.
As the journalist persisted with his questions, Chidambaram told him "no arguments, you are using this forum..." following which the journalist hurled his shoe.
However, Singh said he did not regret his action. "How can he (Chidambaram) happy when one community faces injustice? They were stopping me from talking. I don't think I have done the right thing but the issue called for it".
The BJP also condemned the action but said it reflected on public outrage. "I don't think it was a right way of expressing his point but it shows it was a big issue," said BJP's Balbir Punj.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP Headquarters in New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh said while the action was condemnable, feeling wasn't.
"BJP condemns any uncivilised language or action that goes against ethos of India. Congress should understand the anger and anguish of the Sikhs due to the treatment meted out to them. The manner in which CBI was used (to let-off Tytler) will only make sure the anger grows. BJP suggests Congress to withdraw the candidature of Tytler and Sajjan Kumar from Delhi". he said.
The scene was reminiscent of Iraqi reporter Muntadhar al-Zaidi who shocked the world by throwing his shoes at then US president George W Bush in December.
Sitting in the third row at a press conference attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the reporter 'jumped up' and shouted "It is the farewell kiss, you dog."
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