Chandigarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifts shoes to his fan and BJP worker — Rampal Kashyap — during the prime minister’s visit to Yamunanagar, Haryana, on April 14. This gesture has left many wondering what the meaning of this moment could be.
The Prime Minister was in Haryana to pay homage to Dr B.R. Ambedkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary and met Rampal Kashyap, who had made a distinct promise 14 years back. Kashyap had vowed to not wear shoes till Narendra Modi had become the country’s Prime Minister. He lived up to his promise to himself; he walked barefoot for years and was constantly mocked in public.
PM Modi posted about the moment on Twitter, writing, “On Monday, I met Rampal Kashyap, who lives in Kathal, Yamunanagar, and he exchanged a memento with me. He had vowed not to wear shoes until Modi became Prime Minister 14 years ago, and today I had the opportunity of gifting him shoes, he added. I acknowledge the feelings of all my supporters, but I would request them to take oaths related to a social or national cause, not personal ones.”
Kashyap, in turn, found it an emotional moment having received those shoes from Modi. I thank the Prime Minister for giving me the shoes,” he said. For the last 14 years I haven’t worn shoes. There were those who snickered at my bare feet, but I never heard them.
He said that his joy knew no bounds when PM Modi asked him how he felt. HISAO: I am a worker, and it is the first time for me to wear shoes. Kashyap pledged to treat his shoes with the same care and respect as Ram’s brothers did in Hindu mythology.