Kuldeep Singh, possibly mentally retarded, hurled a shoe at Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in Vikas Nagar near here on Monday.
The shoe fell midway and Kuldeep, father of two, was taken into custody, Senior Superintendent of Police G.N. Goswami said.
Mr. Gandhi asked party workers not to hurt the assailant.
This is the second shoe-hurling incident in recent times in Uttarakhand. A man tossed a shoe at Team Anna members at a meeting in Doon city last week.
Hitting out at the BJP at the rallies in Srinagar, Rishikesh and Vikas Nagar, Mr. Gandhi said the slogan Khanduri Hai Zaroori was relevant for the BJP alone as it required the ‘honest face' to hide its massive corruption. Agar Khanduri ji zaroori hei to unhe pahle hathaya kyon tha? Ab unke zaroorat jhoot aur loot ko chipaney ke liye hai (If Khanduriji was a must then why did they remove him in the first instance? Now the BJP requires him to hide the corrupt deeds and loot).
Divisive policies
Accusing the BJP of following divisive policies, Mr. Gandhi said the people deserved justice, development, health, education, food, employment opportunities and a peaceful, secular atmosphere that only the Congress could deliver.
He appealed to the people to vote the Congress to power.
Mr. Gandhi said work had begun on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project. More such projects to connect the hills to the plains and schemes to uplift the masses would be introduced if the Congress came to power.
The BJP was the common shelter for the likes of the former Minister, Baburam Kushwaha, who was sacked for corrupt practices by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, he said.
Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to address rallies in the Pithoragarh region on Tuesday.
C. K. Chandramohan,do you comprehend the meaning of "retarded" ? There is a BIG difference between retarded, mentally disturbed and those angry at Corrupt Congress party. People shouldn't just hurl shoes at Corrupt Congressmen.. but also CORRUPT journalists on Congress party payroll.
I cant believe that 'The Hindu' is also a poor example of Indian journalism. Mr. C. K. Chandramohan, are you 13? You can read this book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Journalism".
You began your article with 'Kuldeep Singh, possibly mentally retarded...' Wow, did he also show a shoe at you as well? Very poor choice of words.
Your choice of passive voice for BJP clearly shows your bias. Of course you are allowed to have one, but not show it. I seriously am disappointed. Please write news rather than your personal feelings.
why not the police arrest the minister who made a student tie the knots for his shoes? in rahul's case the shoe hurled at him did not even touch him; it's only a symbol of protest.but the minister who purportedly has insulted the poor student by ordering him to touch his dirty shoes and tie the knots is rather more worth punishable.
I think he deserves it because he is not a true politician. Just staying with farmers for few days or dressing up like them doen't mean that he is a great/noble person. It takes more than that to win the hearts of the people.
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