Post by Ðesi Underground™ on Apr 7, 2009 20:57:28 GMT
CNN-IBN: Are you feeling completely apologetic about what you did - throwing a shoe on the Home Minister of the country?
Jarnail Singh: I am feeling apologetic because as a journalist I should not have done it. It's not our duty. It's not part of our job to protest, so as a journalist I felt that I did wrong.
CNN-IBN: You are known to be a very calm person, but what was going in your mind at that time for you to become suddenly so aggressive so as to throw a shoe at the Home Minister? What sparked it?
Jarnail Singh: It was a very emotional issue. Last week I read Chidambaram's statement that he is happy that his colleague (Jagdish Tytler) has been exonerated by the CBI. But i wanted to ask him about the victims. When I was asking the question I just lost control of my mind - I don't know what happened. At the spur of the moment I thought I should protest, but the way was not right. I have nothing against Mr Chidambaram. He is doing a fine job. I felt sorry that I did it.
CNN-IBN: You said he is doing a fine job. It is really such an unprecedented act - certainly here in India - to watch a journalist throw a shoe at a minister. Give us a sense then why did you protest if you think he is doing a fine job?
Jarnail Singh: He is doing the right thing against terrorism. But what about the victims of the 1984 riots? Even after 25 years, there is no justice. There should be justice.
CNN-IBN: Are you planning to meet Mr Chidambaram in person and apologise to him?
Jarnail Singh: It is up to Mr Chidambaram. I have nothing against him personally. I complimented him in the morning - before asking him questions about the 1984 riots - saying you are doing a remarkable job against terrorism. I have nothing against him. If I get the opportunity to meet him I would say sorry to him.
CNN-IBN: The Opposition making the most of your outburst and one Akali group has offered you Rs 2 lakh. Are you planning to accept it?
Jarnail Singh: It's all politics and I don't want to get involved in that. When I am apologetic about it, then how can I receive any reward?
CNN-IBN: Don't you think you are caught in a tug-of-war between Akalis and the Congress around election time? It's almost like the Iraqi journalist who threw a shoe at former US president George Bush in Baghdad. Aren't you worried now that this is all becoming political?
Jarnail Singh: Unfortunately I think it has happened, but I am repeatedly saying that there should not have been politics going on for the last 25 years. Please at least now let's concentrate on the issue of justice. Don't do politics. Don't start a blame game, please concentrate on healing the wounds of people. The Sikh are a proud community and are part of this country and are proud of this great nation.
CNN-IBN: Are you a Sikh first or a journalist first?
Jarnail Singh: I was there as a journalist, I should have behaved like a journalist there. When I'm in the Gurudwara I should behave like a Sikh. When I was in a press conference I should have behaved like a journalist.
CNN-IBN: Now what is the next step for you since your publication Dainkik Jagran is not happy with what you have done? What is next for you?
Jarnail Singh: They have given me an opportunity and I have been working with them for the last 10 years. I am grateful to them. I don't want to discuss this issue on camera.
CNN-IBN: Don't you think because of you journalists are feeling ashamed? Everyone has shown disagreement with what you have done though we all appreciate your cause.
Jarnail Singh: I think after this act, journalism as a job will become more difficult. It's already difficult and I have been doing it for the last 15 years. I think it is wrong. As a journalist we should be above everything, we should learn to control our emotions.
Jarnail Singh: I am feeling apologetic because as a journalist I should not have done it. It's not our duty. It's not part of our job to protest, so as a journalist I felt that I did wrong.
CNN-IBN: You are known to be a very calm person, but what was going in your mind at that time for you to become suddenly so aggressive so as to throw a shoe at the Home Minister? What sparked it?
Jarnail Singh: It was a very emotional issue. Last week I read Chidambaram's statement that he is happy that his colleague (Jagdish Tytler) has been exonerated by the CBI. But i wanted to ask him about the victims. When I was asking the question I just lost control of my mind - I don't know what happened. At the spur of the moment I thought I should protest, but the way was not right. I have nothing against Mr Chidambaram. He is doing a fine job. I felt sorry that I did it.
CNN-IBN: You said he is doing a fine job. It is really such an unprecedented act - certainly here in India - to watch a journalist throw a shoe at a minister. Give us a sense then why did you protest if you think he is doing a fine job?
Jarnail Singh: He is doing the right thing against terrorism. But what about the victims of the 1984 riots? Even after 25 years, there is no justice. There should be justice.
CNN-IBN: Are you planning to meet Mr Chidambaram in person and apologise to him?
Jarnail Singh: It is up to Mr Chidambaram. I have nothing against him personally. I complimented him in the morning - before asking him questions about the 1984 riots - saying you are doing a remarkable job against terrorism. I have nothing against him. If I get the opportunity to meet him I would say sorry to him.
CNN-IBN: The Opposition making the most of your outburst and one Akali group has offered you Rs 2 lakh. Are you planning to accept it?
Jarnail Singh: It's all politics and I don't want to get involved in that. When I am apologetic about it, then how can I receive any reward?
CNN-IBN: Don't you think you are caught in a tug-of-war between Akalis and the Congress around election time? It's almost like the Iraqi journalist who threw a shoe at former US president George Bush in Baghdad. Aren't you worried now that this is all becoming political?
Jarnail Singh: Unfortunately I think it has happened, but I am repeatedly saying that there should not have been politics going on for the last 25 years. Please at least now let's concentrate on the issue of justice. Don't do politics. Don't start a blame game, please concentrate on healing the wounds of people. The Sikh are a proud community and are part of this country and are proud of this great nation.
CNN-IBN: Are you a Sikh first or a journalist first?
Jarnail Singh: I was there as a journalist, I should have behaved like a journalist there. When I'm in the Gurudwara I should behave like a Sikh. When I was in a press conference I should have behaved like a journalist.
CNN-IBN: Now what is the next step for you since your publication Dainkik Jagran is not happy with what you have done? What is next for you?
Jarnail Singh: They have given me an opportunity and I have been working with them for the last 10 years. I am grateful to them. I don't want to discuss this issue on camera.
CNN-IBN: Don't you think because of you journalists are feeling ashamed? Everyone has shown disagreement with what you have done though we all appreciate your cause.
Jarnail Singh: I think after this act, journalism as a job will become more difficult. It's already difficult and I have been doing it for the last 15 years. I think it is wrong. As a journalist we should be above everything, we should learn to control our emotions.
