Patiala, 15 August 2014 – A shoe was hurled at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the annual political conference held at Issru village in Khanna district, Ludhiana on Independence Day.
When CM Badal was about to end his speech and raise the slogans ‘Inquillab Zindabad’ and ‘Jai Hind’, a shoe landed among the security personnel in front of CM’s dais. CM Badal was said to be unhurt.
The 35-year-old man who hurled the shoe was identified later on as Bikram. He called himself ‘an inquillabi’. Bikram was nabbed by the police on the spot.
“I am not a Sikh, Christian, Hindu or Muslim. Do not call me Bikram Singh, Bikram Masih, Bikram Kumar or Bikram Khan. I am an inquillabi. I threw the shoe on system of this country, not CM,” said Bikram when questioned by the police.
He accused CM Badal of ruining the SGPC (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee) and added that Punjab is a state where no respect is being given to the teachers, and the education system was in its worst shape ever.
Police learnt that Bikram is an employee at a cloth shop, and he belongs to Barnala district Sangrur.
Later, during the press conference, when asked about the incident CM Badal said ‘mere waalo sab nu maafi’ (I have forgiven all).
Every year on Independence Day, political conferences are held in village Issru and leaders pay tribute to Shaheed Karnail Singh who died in Goa fighting for India’s independence.