A poll laced with shoes

Yet another shoe has been hurled. Unlike on most previous occasions, this time it hit the target, and it was none less than the Chief Minister of Punjab. This is an abominable act that goes not only against all norms of civilised behaviour, but also, in the political context, is a direct assault on certain firm assumptions in a democracy. No matter what the provocation, no one may in an ordered society take recourse to violence — real or symbolic — to convey his anger, frustration or set right any injustice. For any immediate cause, there is the recourse of the police and courts. For anger against an elected government, there is the ballot, the ultimate weapon in the hands of even the least empowered.

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Punjab is going through an extremely impassioned election. Up against Parkash Singh Badal is an AAP candidate who came into the limelight only after having himself hurled a shoe at a Union minister. That act of gross misbehaviour was applauded in certain political quarters; the AAP even rewarded him with a nomination. Over the past few days, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann has referred to a possibility of people stoning SAD leaders. After the shoe incident SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur has mentioned how AAP workers may come to harm in case Akali workers turned violent. This is messaging of the worst kind. There have been incidents of party workers clashing, villagers acting hostile towards leaders, or candidates themselves using intemperate language. It is very unfortunate that top party leaders have not condemned such incidents in the strong terms expected of them.

The Election Commission is now in charge of law and order in the state. It must respond to all such incidents with such alacrity and severity that political parties and their workers may not find it profitable to incite anyone to violence. The parties too need to reconcile what they do in the heat of the moment. They will have to live with the consequences — for themselves as well as the state — once the elections are over. No one would want a disturbed state to take over.