Why shoes – and biryani – fly at India's politicians
New Delhi – Throw the bums out? This election Indians are seizing the chance to throw things at them first.
It started with shoes – following in the footsteps of the Iraqi journalist who hurled his soles at President Bush in Baghdad.
A Sikh journalist named Jarnail Singh chucked his sneaker at India's Home Minister earlier this month. Mr. Singh was protesting a recent government decision to absolve a politician – now running for office again – of involvement in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. Sikhs cheered and began delivering shoes to ruling party leader Sonia Gandhi's house, eventually forcing her to give the controversial candidate the boot.
Two days later, a retired school teacher lobbed some leather at Naveen Jindal, a Member of Parliament running for reelection.
Then a disgruntled opposition party worker upped the ante with a wooden shoe aimed at his party's prime ministerial candidate, L. K. Advani.
Flying food
Now comes word that a party worker over the weekend flung food – to be exact – at Shantaram Naik, another MP seeking reelection.
