'Don't hit politicians with shoes, use your vote instead'

With increasing incidents of footwear missiles targeting politicians, a citizens' group in this city has asked voters not to "hurt" politicians by hurling shoes at them but to express their opposition by voting.

The group, an assembly of citizens from various walks of life, is seen moving around the city with flags of major political parties.

They hold small corner meetings asking people not to hurl shoes at politicians.

"When a person throws his shoes, it shows his hurt and anger. But hurling shoes is not the solution. If you really want to hurt a politician, do it by using your vote against him," says Dinesh Talwar, one of the members of 'Surbhi Parivar.'

The group members tell people that politicians are members of the state legislature and Parliament "as you had voted for them. If you do not like them, vote them out."

The small meets evoke a lot of response as people stop to see the group carrying flags of rival political parties together.

The group had recently launched a protest against increasing number of cases of chain snatching. It has also organised programmes against filthy roads and lack of sheds at bus stands.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Tuesday became the latest victim of footwear attacks on politicians, with a man hurling a slipper at him while he was addressing an election meeting in Chennarayapatna but the missile did not hit him.

A string of footwear flinging incidents have taken place across the country in recent weeks, beginning with the one involving home minister P Chidambaram.