Angry student throws shoe at PM in India

[Al-zakir]

Sun, Apr 26th, 2009 7:58 pm BdST

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AHMEDABAD, Sun Apr 26, (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - A student threw a shoe at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during an election rally in Ahmedabad on Sunday after he was stopped from shouting at the veteran politician, police said.

The shoe landed in front of a dias, moments after Singh started to speak about the government's achievements in the last five years of power.

The man, identified as Hitesh Chauhan, a 21-year-old computer engineering student, was taken away by police, and detained for questioning, Abhay Chudasma, a senior police officer told Reuters.

"He was shouting that politicians were all liars, when he was stopped by supporters, resulting in the incident," Chudasma said. "We are questioning him and will release him after a while."

The incident was the latest episode of shoe-throwing as a mark of protest against political leaders. Other incidents involved former US President George W. Bush and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

In India, angry people have thrown shoes and slippers at politicians contesting in the April/May general election. Fearful of such attacks by disgruntled voters, leaders have asked for more security and are erecting metal nets at rallies.

This month, a Sikh journalist hurled a shoe at India's home minister during a news conference in New Delhi after getting angry with the minister's reply to a question about 1984 riots.

A few days later, another man threw a slipper at Lal Krishna Advani, the prime ministerial candidate of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition party.

While criticising the incidents, Indian leaders have not taken any legal action against the offenders.

Man, Look what Muntaser have done.......

Angry student throws shoe at India's prime minister | Entertainment | Reuters

 

[Sambha]

Another 'Ajmal-Kasab's -Mother' for 2min of fame.

 

[wtf]

Apparently somebody threw a shoe at Advani too. And Modi is speaking from behind a metal mesh wall.

Shoe hurled at LK Advani during his rally - Yahoo! India News

I think this copycat shoe throwing thing is getting out of hand. I used to think that throwing shoes is better than throwing stones or bombs, but I can imagine the confusion this would cause to the security forces.

Apparently Chidambaram, Manmohan Singh and Advani have all refused to press charges. That's nice of them, but it just encourages the trend.

 

[Sambha]

Yea we need a shoe-throwing smiley.

 

[Beskar]

Haha Muntazir would be remembered by many for a long time.

 

[Al-zakir]

Why are so many shoe throwing happening in India than other nations.......??

 

[Goodperson]

Why are so many shoe throwing happening in India than other nations.......??

The person wanted publicity reason was unemployment.

 

[Incredible India]

Apparently Chidambaram, Manmohan Singh and Advani have all refused to press charges. That's nice of them, but it just encourages the trend.

They refused to press charges becoz this is election time. Let the election be over and if someone throws shoes again to any politicians his future will be in hell...

 

[Al-zakir]

The person wanted publicity reason was unemployment.

Well In that case I can't blame the dude though I doubt he will get the job............may be India should spend its money wisely instead of taking prescription from west to build a super military that will police the world. Look what happen to America?

 

[Sambha]

Well In that case I can't blame the dude though I doubt he will get the job............may be India should spend its money wisely instead of taking prescription from west to build a super military that will police the world. Look what happen to America?

Dude Indian economy is almost the opposite of US or China. Everything produced in India is almost consumed totally in India. Indian economy doesn't depend much on exports or imports. Chinese economy is totally export driven and US is the opposite. So global shocks doesn't matter much for India, but we're not totally immune either.

And India is not making any force for "global policing" but to defend against the power-mad northern neighbor who thinks everything it like belongs to it.

 

[wtf]

Well In that case I can't blame the dude though I doubt he will get the job............may be India should spend its money wisely instead of taking prescription from west to build a super military that will police the world. Look what happen to America?

Won't help I think. Indian politics has been messy for a while. A recent case was Nandigram in West Bengal where they had actual riots trying to prevent a factory from coming up. I am not saying that rioting or shoe throwing are good ways of protesting, just that protesting itself is a common part of the culture.

I will still say that it is better than army takeover or the "emergency" rule that Indira imposed on India - more power to people and less to politicians. No amount of money will stop people from opposing something they don't like and the culture of standing up to power is something we are reasonably proud of as a democracy.

 

[wtf]

Why are so many shoe throwing happening in India than other nations.......??

Because you are less likely to go to jail or get killed for it ?

 

[Durran3]

I think Manmohan singh has done a tremendous job over the last 5 years. Many will always complain but i think one of his biggest achievements have been the close relationship that India has accepted with the United States. Not only did that bolster the economy tremendously but also put India in the for front of commerce.

Its obviously impossible that more than a billion people will be happy but i do believe that the last five years are a testament to India's ability to be a front line commerce nation over the next couple of years.