Minister’s PSO ties his shoe laces in public

Video footage aired by TV channels results in widespread condemnation

West Bengal Planning Minister Rachhpal Singh’s personal security officer helping the former in wearing his shoes.

The personal security officer of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Minister Rachhpal Singh was seen tying his shoelaces at the State Secretariat on Monday triggering a huge political controversy.

Mr Singh, a former IPS officer and now Bengal’s Planning Minister, was present at the government event organised to pay homage to iconic sculptor and painter Ramkinkar Baij on his birth anniversary at the State Secretariat building.

Interestingly, the legendary sculptor questioned social inequalities all his life through his artworks, mainly focused on rural Dalits and the tribals.

However, before garlanding the portrait of the artist, Rachhpal Singh -- who was clad in a pair of jeans and a half-sleeve shirt -- had taken off his shoes at a corner of the room. After paying homage, as the Minister approached his shoes, his personal security officer went beyond the call of duty and helped him wear the shoes and tied his shoelaces.

Video footage aired by local television channels resulted in widespread condemnation and the political parties in the Opposition demanded action against the Minister as such actions by mainstream politicians in public view are rare in West Bengal.

The Minister, however, refused to speak on the incident.

“Such a thing is unthinkable in the 21st century. This is reflective of the political bankruptcy of the TMC and its leaders,” former Kolkata Mayor and leader of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said.

Congress leader Manas Ranjan Bhunia asked what justification will Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee give of the incident and demanded action against the Minister.

Former police officer Samir Ganguly, however, said that such a thing is common in the police and this event has brought it to the public.

“There are many who shamelessly run errands for their superiors hoping for a better posting and promotion,” said Mr Ganguly, a former deputy commissioner in the city police.

This is not the first time a police officer is seen going beyond his call of duty when it comes to assisting a politician with his or her errands. In 2011, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s personal security officer kicked up a political storm after he wiped dust off her sandals.