Indore: IDA chief touches Union minister’s feet, triggers row

A video went viral on Monday evening which showed Indore Development Authority CEO Rakesh Singh touching the feet of Union minister for mines Narendra Singh Tomar.

A video went viral on Monday evening which showed Indore Development Authority CEO Rakesh Singh touching the feet of Union minister for mines Narendra Singh Tomar.

Rakesh Singh, who is from the state administrative services, was Indore municipal commissioner before serving on the present post. When contacted, Rakesh Singh said he knew Tomar even before he joined state administrative services in 1993.

"We both belong to Rajput community and our social and family relations are over 26 years old. (Touching feet) was a very personal gesture,” Singh told HT.

However, a general administrative department official said it is inappropriate for a government official to touch a politician’s feet. “If government officials do it, especially at public functions, they bring disrepute to the service. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discouraged the practice,” the official said wishing anonymity.

The incident occurred at Lalbag Palace, a state-protected archeological monument, where the IDA had organised a sapling plantation programme and had invited Tomar as chief guest.

IDA chairman and former city BJP president Shankar Lalwani touched Tomar’s feet as soon as the minister got down from his car. Rakesh Singh standing next to Lalwani was quick to stoop and touch Tomar’s feet.

Later, IDA chairman Shankar Lalwani released a press statement in which he said that Rakesh Singh touched minister’s feet because of old family ties.