Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP of masterminding shoe-hurling episode

Vikasnagar (Uttarakhand), Jan 23 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of masterminding the shoe-hurling episode, and underscored that such incidents were not going to deter his spirit.

"I like to address rallies like these and to be with you people. However, if someone has a difference in opinion they can throw as much as shoes at me, this will not deter me I am sure this person belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party," he said.

41-year-old Gandhi further said that throwing shoes has become a fashion by certain people.

"You people have no reason to worry; throwing shoes has become a fashion. If some people think that throwing a shoe will force me to run away, they are mistaken. Rahul Gandhi will not run away," he said.

An unidentified man hurled a shoe at Rahul Gandhi earlier today in an attempt to derail his election campaign in poll-bound Uttarakhand.

The shoe, however, fell short of the Congress General Secretary.

According to reports, the youth, who had hurled the shoe, has been taken into custody and is being interrogated.

The shoe-hurling incident on the Amethi MP came two days after a similar attack on Team Anna members in Uttarakhand. A slipper was hurled at Team Anna members during a public rally in Uttarakhand's Dehradun city on Saturday. (ANI)