Weapons of mass 'distraction': JUTTI

Soul_jyot · #1 (**permalink**) 17-Apr-2009, 22:50 PM

Indian politicians demand protection from flying shoes

Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:08pm BST
By Bappa Majumdar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - 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.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/24639-weapons-of-mass-distraction-jutti.html

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 U.S. President George W. 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.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24639

(Editing by Alistair Scrutton and Valerie Lee)

Archived_member7 · #2 (**permalink**) 17-Apr-2009, 22:56 PM

the next set of press conferences and public meetings will have another check ..no shoes or chappals in...

dalsingh · #3 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2009, 02:15 AM

As they say in Panjabi "Chuk ke jutti maro edey sir'ch!"

Take your shoes and belt him in the head!

Tejwant Singh · #4 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2009, 02:56 AM

The best way for the News conferences to take place is where there is Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji present. In this way, all have to take their shoes off.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24639

Tejwant Singh

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #5 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2009, 08:06 AM

Tejwant ji,

there are no shoes in mosques..mandirs as well....should all News Conferences shift venues ??

Narayanjot Kaur · #6 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gyani Jarnail Singh

Tejwant ji,

there are no shoes in mosques..mandirs as well....should all News Conferences shift venues ??

Maybe for 45 minutes or more -- they would clean up their act. There could even be a rotating system in which sacred spaces are listed as sites for press conferences so no one is excluded based on religious adherence.

Huck_Finn · #7 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2009, 08:50 AM

don't give this idea to Badal..

he will start using Gurudwaras for just this.

Soul_jyot · #8 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2009, 09:49 AM

FOR YOUR KIND INFO:

According to news reports, the following provisions are rigorously being applied by the Election Commission of India during to the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections :

Q. Are their any restrictions in using religious places for election propaganda?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24639
Ans. Yes Religious places like Temple, Mosque, Church, Gurudwara or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda. Further, there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24639

Q. Whether there is any restriction on use of educational institutions including their grounds (whether Govt. aided, Private or Govt.) for political campaigns and rallies?

Ans. Use of educational institutions including their grounds (whether Govt. aided, Private or Govt.) for political campaigns and rallies is not allowed.