Sikh journalist hurls shoe at Home Minister P Chidambaram

NEW DELHI, April 7 – A Sikh journalist today hurled a shoe at Home Minister P Chidambaram at a press conference here protesting against CBI’s clean chit to 1984 anti-Sikh riots accused Jagdish Tytler but missed the target by a whisker, reports PTI. Chidambaram, who was addressing the media at the AICC headquarters here, was taken aback for a moment but he drew himself away from the missile hurled at him by Jarnail Singh, a reporter with Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, who was sitting just in front of him.

The journalist showed his anger when Chidambaram, who had answered his questions, told him that he cannot indulge in arguments over his answers.

“I protest,” Singh said and threw the shoe at the Minister that went past the target. The assembled gathering of journalists was surprised at the scribe’s action that created flutters.

“Take him away,” said Chidambaram adding “please, take him gently, gently” as he was escorted out of the conference hall by two AICC staff who held him by his arms.

Singh, who was later taken by police, was released as Chidambaram said he forgave him.

However, Jagran management took the matter seriously and said it was planning “disciplinary action” against the journalist for the “shameful act”.

Jarnail’s mother Naseeb and wife Gurmeet Kaur felt that he should not have thrown the shoe and were thankful to the Home Minister for not pressing the issue.

“We have not registered a case, primarily because the aggrieved party (Chidambaram) does not have any complaint. He did not want to pursue the case as it was just an emotional outburst. The aggrieved party says he is ignoring the matter,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Shankar Dash told PTI.

Dismissing the act, the Home Minister said, “I forgive him...Let not the action of one emotional person hijack the entire press conference. I have answered his questions as best as I can. You are all witness to it.”

Singh, however, remained unapologetic saying that his manner of protest might have been wrong but there was no other method left for Sikhs to express their feelings which have been ignored for the last 25 years.

It all started with the journalist asking him about the clean chit given by CBI to Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and saying the agency was working under the pressure from the Home Ministry.

“CBI’s administrative ministry is not the MHA. To my knowledge neither the Home Ministry nor any ministry of the government has 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 be patient”, Chidambaram 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. ASSAM TRIBUNE