1984 ANTI- SIKH-RIOTS
Journalist throws shoe at Chidambaram
A Sikh journalist on Tuesday hurled a shoe at home minister P Chidambaram protesting against CBI’s clean chit to senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The shoe, however, missed its target. Chidambaram, who was addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, was surprised when Jarnail Singh, a journalist from Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, flung the shoe and an alert home minister quickly moved away to see it pass by him.
“Please take him away,” said Chidambaram who smiled and later added “gently, gently” as the journalist was escorted out of the press conference hall. Later, he was taken away by police. It is not clear whether any case has been registered against him against the backdrop of Chidambaram saying “I forgive him”. As the action caused a flutter in the hall, a composed Chidambaram appealed to the reporters, “let not the action of one emotional person hijack the entire press conference. I have answered his questions to the best of my ability.”
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.
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