Union minister Smriti Irani on Saturday paid Rs 100 to a cobbler in Coimbatore for getting her slippers repaired and the latter, who had demanded only Rs 10 for the job, happily put in additional stitches on it with the incident going viral on the social media.
The Union Textile Minister’s slipper strap had snapped as she alighted from a flight to address a session at Isha Foundation here, BJP sources said.
She was looking for a cobbler and found one near Perur, around 16 kms from the airport, on her way to Isha Foundation. Irani, along with Tamil Nadu BJP general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan, got off the vehicle.
She handed over the slipper to the cobbler and sat on a stool. The cobbler asked for Rs 10 for the stitching job.
Irani placed a Rs 100 currency note near his cash box and said, “Change venda (change not needed),” repeating what Vanathi told her.
The cobbler put in a few additional stitches on the Union minister’s slipper.
The incident has gone viral on the social media with the netizens appreciating Irani’s gesture.
This is so unlike an Indian politician,a grt exmpl of simplicity of @smritiirani ,stopping by at a cobbler herself 2get her chappal stitched pic.twitter.com/Mnv0jawTfN
— Amritanshu (@AmritanshuGupta) November 26, 2016
On way to prog. frm Coimbatore Airport Union Min. @smritiirani‘s slipper got cut & v were searching for a cobbler could find one near Perur. pic.twitter.com/Unk55IBbII
— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) November 26, 2016
self publicy in 100 bucks is a good idea https://t.co/vXIEHzfZpx
— Sunil Kumar Agrwal (@SunilAgrawal01) November 26, 2016
@i_Aakanksha @smritiirani These congis are ripped apart… Torn into pieces…. Looking for a cheap cobbler…. ))
— विस्फोटक (@JainKamlesh989) February 25, 2016
Watch the video here:
Bad voice quality since it’s a busy road. Union Minister @smritiirani & @BJP4TamilNadu General Secretary @VanathiBJP in convo with cobbler. pic.twitter.com/AAO07ZxKdY
— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) November 26, 2016
Feature image source: Twitter/SG Suryah
