Once again it is the humble shoe which is in the center of controversy. By now everyone knows that our esteemed Home minister was gifted a shoe albeit bit forcefully which slithered down on the floor.

Jarnail Singh a veteran journalist could not control his anger at the injustice meted out to the victims of the 1984 riots hurled a sports shoe at him but the time, the occasion and above all, the way was wrong which afterward Jarnail himself admitted.

It seems that shoe hurling is becoming a revolt statement. Last week it was Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao who had a battered sports shoe thrown at him. It was a miss, than it was the turn of Israel’s ambassador to Sweden to become the next face at the shoe throwing contest.

After Bush it seems every politician can be the target. The common factor is every politician who had a shoe thrown at him ducked at the right moment thereby saving his face and dignity. In fact the shocked look on Chidambaram’s face is on every news channel. Whereas, there was an amused look on both the Chinese and the former USA President’s face!

One thing which is gaining importance over the whole issue is its politicizing. Different political parties have jumped into the fray claiming close relations with Jarnail whose action was a spur of the moment act and these parties are trying to gain political mileage in view of the oncoming elections. Pity!