-
Fashion - shoes - Source: Reuters -
Related
India's politicians contesting in the general election, fearful
of shoes hurled at them by disgruntled voters, have asked for more
security and are erecting metal nets at rallies.
Lal Krishna Advani, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime
ministerial candidate was the latest politician to be at the
receiving end on Thursday, as an angry party worker threw a slipper
at him during an election meeting in a central state.
The slipper missed Advani, but was enough for authorities to step
up security for all leaders across the country.
The incident was the latest episode of shoe-throwing as a mark of
protest against political leaders, including former US President
George Bush and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
Throwing a shoe at someone is considered an insult in India.
Indian politicians have asked party workers to remove shoes at
meetings and alerted police and their security staff to keep a tab
on people, including journalists in news conferences.
"The security is extremely tight for politicians, and we are
keeping a close watch on everyone," a Delhi Police spokesman
said.
Last week, a Sikh journalist hurled a shoe at India's home minister
during a news conference after getting angry with the minister's
reply to a question about 1984 riots in which hundreds of Sikhs
were killed.
Three days later, a retired school teacher threw a shoe at popular
Congress lawmaker Naveen Jindal, during an election rally in
Haryana state.
Authorities in Gujarat state built an iron safety net to keep
flying shoes away, as Narendra Modi, the chief minister of the
BJP-ruled state began his speech at a rally this week.
"These are acts of insanity, there is no scope for such acts in
India's political system," Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the BJP's candidate
in Bihar state where election was held on Thursday said.
India's politicians have not taken the shoe attacks personally and
not initiated legal action so far.
"Flying footwear are now the weapons of mass distraction," was the
headline in one such report carried by the Mail Today newspaper on
Friday.
World News Video
-
Dangerous rush to Everest summit (1:59)
-
Dozens killed in Syrian massacre (2:09)
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
