LUCKNOW: In a brazen display of sycophancy, two government officials were seen touching the feet of senior Samajwadi Party leader and minister Shivpal Yadav at a function in Etawah on Monday.

Without showing any regard to service rules, additional superintendent of police (ASP) Rishi Pal Yadav and additional city magistrate (ACM) Sharda Prasad Yadav touched Shivpal's feet after the minister disembarked from a helicopter at the Reserve Police Lines.

Though caught on camera, the two officials later denied the incident. In a bizarre defence, Rishi Pal Yadav said he had bent to pick his watch which had slipped off his wrist. He, however, admitted that he was in uniform and had held his cap in hand. But Sharda Prasad Yadav was in denial: "What feet? No, no…You must have got confused. I was only picking my glasses" he told reporters.

Shivpal Yadav was not available for comment. But there have been several such instances in the past.

Shivpal is not the lone SP leader to endorse such acts of sycophancy. On January 24, the then senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Etah Ajay Mohan Sharma was seen touching the feet of SP leader Ramgopal Yadav. He defended the SSP's act saying that it was a way of showing respect to elders in Indian culture. "I don't see anything wrong in this. Should a senior officer not show his respect to his elders even if he is in his uniform," Ramgopal had said.

On March 24, the then city magistrate of Agra, Atul Kumar, was seen touching Ramgopal's feet during a function in the city.

On February 8, 2011, the then chief minister Mayawati 's personal security officer Padam Singh was seen wiping dust off her sandals in full public view in Auraiya district. The BSP government defended the incident saying it was the duty of Padam Singh to ensure the safety and security of the CM. "The dirt on the CM's footwear could have caused her to slip and fall. Hence he cleared the dirt," Padam Singh said. Incidentally, Padam Singh was decorated with a gallantry award later, ostensibly for taking on robbers on board a train.

