Rajasthan MLA Leads ‘Chappal Rally’ to Slam Power Department; Some Walk Away with Free Footwear
In Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, a unique protest took shape on Wednesday when Independent MLA Ganesh Raj Bansal organised a “chappal rally” to criticise the electricity department’s alleged negligence.
Over a thousand people gathered at Bharat Mata Chowk, waving slippers of every size and colour, before marching towards the power department’s office a kilometre away. Organisers even brought sacks full of new slippers for those without extra pairs — but the protest soon doubled as a giveaway. Some bystanders grabbed the footwear for personal use, with videos showing a man carrying away five pairs, while others filled entire sacks, likely to sell later.
When police blocked entry to the office, protesters hurled their chappals at its gates.
“This is a symbol of our anger,” MLA Bansal declared. “People are suffering in this heat, and complaints are ignored. Next time, we will throw these chappals at the head of the electricity department.”
The protest comes after a major power outage on August 8 left half the town without electricity for hours, sparking previous clashes between residents and officials.
While supporters saw the rally as a bold statement, BJP leader Amit Sahi criticised the move, calling it “in bad taste” and urging dialogue over dramatic displays.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
