This is no justification or excuse for Jarnail Singh's act but time factor did play a major role. Approximate time was 25 years, add the pain plus a few moments of impulse and then Jarnail Singh hurled a shoe at the home minister, P. Chidambaram.

Eight months after the incident, he is out with his book, I Accuse, the title in tandem with his action on 2nd April, 2009. So here, Jarnail talks about time too, "Time at times fails to heal. Even after all these years, when half of the witnesses have died and accused have been almost forgotten and forgiven, there are many who still are suffering and hoping for justice even after a quarter of a century behind them." Thus, the book is an account of his agony-afflicted, people's untold stories and the shoe-flinging incident.

But because we are the global generation that is more bothered about issues like female foeticide, drug menace and unemployment, it wasn't very easy for us to relate to the issue of 1984 Anti-Sikh riots that he strongly feels about. "It's not in a bid to take up a particular community's issue but how human rights were compromised and are still being, by not delivering justice. Human rights is the cause common to all generations," says the journalist turned author as he launches his book at The Browser-8. And gradually we begin to agree as he further narrates the system's apathy towards people, "Shanti Kaur, a riot victim lost her father and brother in the riots, later her husband died and in February 2009, she lost her son to the drug mafia.

But the issue in these 25 years remains the same: accountability." It was two months after the incident that he was approached by Penguin to write the book, "I did extensive research by visiting widow colonies in Delhi and other most affected areas. Also, I went through as much news papers and magazines as I could of that time the incidents happened to know the discrepancy between what was reported and the facts." Life has changed a lot for Jarnail Singh in the last few months as everyone recognises him now.

People approach him for a debate on his shoe-flinging act often and he candidly replies, "As a journalist, I violated a model code of conduct, which I shouldn't have. I was also fired from my job. Many lawyers showed their interest in taking up the case but I didn't fight as I knew I wasn't right." Then there's another model code of conduct that has been made a mockery of and is severe than his case. "The Sikh leadership failed the community just as the government by not being able to control riots. The accused were being given the Lok Sabha tickets even when Nanavati Commission report held them responsible. Is this not violation of the model code of conduct?" he asks. His action however, set off a chain reaction before elections, which he hadn't expected. The issue was once again taken up in the Parliament and people held protests in Delhi and Punjab. With his book, what he still aims to accomplish is, "Justice and accountability. Also, riots shouldn't be taken up as political issues. Riots in Punjab should not be defended with the argument of riots in Godhra." Hope aims are achieved in 'time'!

ashima@tribunemail.com