In a striking display of public frustration, around 1,000 residents of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, marched in a “chappal rally” on Wednesday to protest the persistent inefficiencies of the local electricity department. Led by Independent MLA Ganesh Raj Bansal, the crowd gathered at Bharat Mata Chowk and marched a kilometer to the electricity department’s offices, brandishing slippers of all shapes and sizes as a symbol of their discontent. The unusual protest, which saw slippers thrown at the department’s gates, highlighted deep-seated grievances over frequent power outages in the region’s sweltering heat.

The rally, organized in response to ongoing electricity disruptions, took a dramatic turn when organizers distributed slippers from sacks to participants who arrived empty-handed. However, the event drew attention for an unexpected reason: some bystanders seized the opportunity to collect multiple pairs for personal use, with cellphone footage capturing one individual walking away with five new pairs and others stuffing slippers into sacks, presumably for resale. “This chappal rally is about the electricity department’s neglect,” Bansal declared. “They ignore the struggles of ordinary people in this heat and humidity. If our complaints aren’t addressed, next time these slippers will land on the heads of department officials.”

The protest follows a recent clash on August 8, when a fault in the 11 KV line left half of Hanumangarh without power from 5 am. That day, former Zila Parishad chairman Devendra Parikh allegedly confronted electricity officials with abusive language, sparking further protests by his supporters outside the department’s offices. Assistant Engineer Mukesh Sharma, speaking to NDTV, defended the department’s efforts, stating, “We worked tirelessly to restore power on August 8, but the unfair targeting and political pressure are unjust. I’ve been forced on leave since the incident.”

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The rally drew mixed reactions. Local BJP leader Amit Sahi, who unsuccessfully contested the Hanumangarh election, criticized the protest’s approach. “Issues should be resolved through dialogue, not by waving slippers or threatening violence. This is in poor taste,” he said. Social media posts on X echoed the tension, with some highlighting earlier confrontations between locals and electricity officials, including a reported FIR against leaders for abusive behavior.

The chappal rally underscores a broader frustration with Rajasthan’s power infrastructure, particularly in Hanumangarh, where residents face prolonged outages during peak summer months. As the protest’s images of flying slippers and sacked footwear spread online, it has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of such demonstrations versus the need for constructive solutions to the region’s energy woes.

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