NEW DELHI: The shoe hurled by journalist Jarnail Singh at home minister P Chidambaram today has become a valued symbol for Sikh organisations who are ready to cough up Rs.5 lakh for it. “In the land of Mahatma Gandhi which hails non-violence, we expected justice in favour of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. But after waiting for 25 years the decision comes out in favour of the main accused in the riots. So we think that the ‘shoe incident’ is justified,” said Babu Singh Dukhiya, president of National 1984 Victims Justice Association. “We are ready to buy the shoe for Rs.5 lakh,” he added. “Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, the main accused of the 1984 riots, should be banned from contesting the Lok Sabha elections. Otherwise, the entire Sikh community will surely stage protests during the elections,” said a riot victim, Amar Singh. “I was only 22 when the riots happened in which my father and brother were killed and the whole responsibility of my family came on my shoulders so I could not continue my studies. Now I am in 46 but the rage against the accused of the riots is still there,” said Sukh Chain Singh. “A Congress government was in power when the riots took place and now again under a Congress government the accused are poised to contest the Lok Sabha election on tickets of Congress,” said Puchka Singh, another victim. According to sources, Akali Dal (Man) has offered Singh a ticket to contest the upcoming general election from Punjab.
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