Shoe hurled at Chidambaram at Cong PC

A Sikh journalist on Tuesday hurled a shoe at Home minister P Chidambaram protesting against CBI's clean chit to senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, but it missed the target.

Chidambaram, who was addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, was surprised when suddenly Jarnail Singh, journalist from a Hindi daily, flung the shoe and an alert Home minister made a quick movement to see it pass by him.

"Please take him away," said Chidambaram who later added "gently, gently" as the journalist was escorted out of the press conference hall. Later, he was taken away by police but it was not clear whether any case has been registered against him against the backdrop of Chidambaram saying "I forgive him".

As the action caused a flutter in the hall, a composed Chidambaram appealed to the reporters, "let not the action of one emotional person hijack the entire press conference. I have answered his questions to the best of my ability."

It all started with the journalist asking him about the clean chit given by CBI to Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case under pressure from the government.

"First of all let me make it clear that CBI is not under the Home Ministry. To my knowledge neither the Home Ministry nor any ministry of the government had put any pressure on the CBI," Chidambaram said.

"CBI has only given a report to the court. It is for the court to accept or reject or ask for further investigation by CBI. Let us wait for the court decision," he said.

As the journalist persisted with his questions, Chidambaram told him "no arguments, you are using this forum..." following which the journalist hurled his shoe.

An unapologetic Singh said he will not apologise for his action, though his manner of protest might have been wrong.

"My manner of protest might have been wrong, but I did not intend to hurt anyone," he said.

Asked if he could have used some other manner to protest, he said, "for the last 25 years this has been happening. So what other method is left (to protest)".

Earlier this month, CBI had given a clean chit to 1984 anti-Sikh riots accused Tytler and sought permission from the court for the closure of the case against the Congress leader.

Police has taken the journalist into custody and is questioning him.

"We have taken him into custody. We are questioning him. We want to know his intention. After that we will take necessary action," deputy commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sankar Dash said.

Singh was taken to Tuglaq Road police station from the AICC headquarters where the incident took place.