Click to play videoNew Delhi: There was high drama during Home Minister P Chidambaram’s press conference in New Delhi when a journalist threw a shoe at the minister.
Chidambaram was speaking with journalists at the Congress headquarters when the incident took place.
A Sikh journalist, Jarnail Singh, from Hindi daily Dainik Jagran asked Chidambaram a question regarding the CBI clean chit to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.
Chidambaram replied to his question saying, "Neither the Home Ministry nor any other ministry put any pressure on the CBI. The CBI has only given a report. It is for the court to decide whether to accept the report or not."
However, the journalist pressed on for more. The Home Minister then asked him not to turn it into an argument at which the journalist threw a shoe at him.
The Minister ducked and the shoe narrowly missed him.
Though, he looked momentarily stunned, 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.
He also said he had "forgiven" the journalist.
"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.
Next Page: 'I don't regret it'
'I don't regret it'
Speaking with CNN-IBN after the incident, Jarnail Singh said he did not regret his action.
"How can he (Chidambaram) be 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," Jarnail Singh said.
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 Siddharth Nath Singh said while the action was condemnable, the 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."
During the news conference, Chidambaram condemned the Assam bomb blasts and said that India's pluralitistic nature makes it a target.
Chidamabaram promised that if voted to power, the Congress will set up a "war room" headed by Cabinet Secretary to deal with terror.
"Congress is alive to challenges posed by terrorism and can provide a strong leadership to fight it," he added.
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