JOURNALIST HURLS SHOE AT HOME MINISTER

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, April 7 (Bernama) -- Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram became
the latest victim of shoe-throwing by journalists after a local reporter hurled
one at him during a media conference Tuesday.

Jarnail Singh, who works for the Dainik Jagaran, a Hindi newspaper, was
upset when Chidambaram did not answer a question posed by him about the 1984
anti-Sikh riots where many Sikhs were massacred.

The alert minister dodged and the shoe missed him narrowly.

"Take him way. Gently, gently, it doesn't matter," said a smiling
Chidambaram as officials present in the hall walked away the journalist.

Singh was taken to a nearby police station where his statement was recorded.

The incident happened when the minister was briefing the media about
Monday's terrorist attack in Assam where eight people were killed and many
injured.

Chidambaram joins other world leaders like former United States president
George W. Bush and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao -- all victims of protests by
angry journalist recently.

Singh later told a local television station that he was not satisfied with
the minister's reply and would not apologise for the incident.
-- BERNAMA