Election is War!

Don't be mislead by these seemingly angry faces.Our photographer(thanks maddy) found these CPM workers collecting donations from shopkeepers in Chennai to run their campaign. I repeat. These volunteers were collecting donations to run their campaigns...hmm

PC and the boot!

As a prelude to this story let us turn the clock back 25 years to the time of the Anti-Sikh riots in New Delhi.One Mr Jagdish Tytler was, then, allegedly involved in these riots and a case was filed against him.The case against Tytler relates to an incident on November 1, 1984, when a mob had set afire the Gurudwara Pulbangash killing three persons . 25 years have passed and the case is still open.A few days back the CBI gave a clean chit to Mr Tytler in this case in its report.This infuriated several Sikh groups and a few leaders were even arrested.In the midst of this controversy the Congress party gave him a ticket from the North East Delhi constituency.You might wonder though,where does Mr P.Chidambaram feature in this story?As fate would have it he was on the receiving end of the latest shoe hurling incident to be immortalized on film which was fuelled by this controversy earlier today. Mr Jarnail Singh, a journalist with a Hindi daily, repeatedly questioned the home minister on the Tytler issue. This led to a heated exchange which Mr Singh ended by hurling his boot at the minister.He was taken away immediately by Congress party workers and let off by the police as no case was registered.Mr Singh later said that he does not regret his actions.Why would he?The Akali Dal has announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for him . And reports suggest that his shoes are intact as well! I wonder if a NY Yankee pitcher earns that much with one single throw.Nevertheless, Mr PC is safe and sound.He forgave Mr Singh for his actions and the press conference went on despite the fiasco.

On a serious note, eventhough the emotions are justified the action that it transpired into is questionable.If every angry Indian hurls a shoe, it would rain boots and we'd all be walking barefoot! What say you?