Bhubaneswar: There is outrage over Odisha minister Jogendra Behera allowing his personal security officer to strap his shoes when he stepped into them after unfurling the national flag at an Independence Day function in the state's Keonjhar on Monday.
But the minister seemed surprised at all the fuss, saying repeatedly, "I am a VIP."
"Well, I have hoisted the flag, he (the personal security officer) did not," explained Odisha's state's minister for micro, small and medium enterprise, after local television channels aired footage of the shoe incident.
There were hundreds of people present at the function when the security officer bent over and strapped the shoes of Mr Behera, the chief guest. The minister, dressed in white kurta pyjama, stood looking the other way, clearly expecting the favour.
The Biju Janata Dal government of Naveen Patnaik is yet to comment on the incident, criticised by opposition parties and others.
The incident and the subsequent statement of the minister was slammed on social media with some demanding that he be sacked.
But the minister seemed surprised at all the fuss, saying repeatedly, "I am a VIP."
"Well, I have hoisted the flag, he (the personal security officer) did not," explained Odisha's state's minister for micro, small and medium enterprise, after local television channels aired footage of the shoe incident.
There were hundreds of people present at the function when the security officer bent over and strapped the shoes of Mr Behera, the chief guest. The minister, dressed in white kurta pyjama, stood looking the other way, clearly expecting the favour.
The Biju Janata Dal government of Naveen Patnaik is yet to comment on the incident, criticised by opposition parties and others.
The incident and the subsequent statement of the minister was slammed on social media with some demanding that he be sacked.