New Delhi: Punjab erupted into protests as Sikhs came out in practically every city to protest against the Congress's decision to give tickets to Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar.
For the Akalis, who have offered a ticket to Jarnail Singh the journalist who threw a shoe at the home minister, it was time to score political points.
Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, said: This is the reaction of a common man. It's not a political reaction. Thousands of people were massacred, including women and children.
Instead of investigating or putting the culprits behind bars, the Congress has decided to give
them a clean chit. It's not a community matter, it's a national issue."
Sources say there is increasing pressure on the Congress High Command to dump him and Sajjan Kumar as party candidates. For now though, the man remains defiant.
"There is no pressure I am the Congress candidate," says Tytler.
In fact his team has now started a desperate PR campaign to show his proximity to a community that wants him in jail.
But Sikh groups have upped the ante with a potent weapon: the shoe. A parcel of shoes is being couriered to Sonia Gandhi.