SALAAM SAAB !!!

The people of this Country had to live with VIP culture when they were ruled by the Kings.  They had to put up with this when ruled by the British and now they continue to do so even with a democratic government in place.  The Irony of the present state is that the elected become elite and the selected become the cursed. 

The present day rulers (the Politicians), are not the only ones who enjoy all these privileges.  There are more than 30 categories of people, listed as VIPs, who enjoy these privileges officially.  Unofficially though, you have many categories.  In addition to the category of people approved by the Government based on their Titles, there are also few very elite persons in this country who are listed by name to enjoy such privileges.   Even though the table of precedence of the Country has only 26 categories the categories that enjoy privileges are much more.  The country has come to a stage where even a local municipal councillor or Panchayat Leader gets preferences and privileges.

Are they a different species than us?  We elect the MPs, MLAs and local body representatives.  We made them what they are.  We have given them the privilege to represent us and not a license to get privileges and preferences.  How many times we have been asked to wait for hours in the Traffic just to make sure the convoy of a VIP moves freely on the Roads.  How many times we have seen VIPs just jumping the Queue?  How many times we have seen VIPs and their Staff park the car wherever they want?  What is so special about them?

Shocking is the reply from Dr. Mahesh Sharma, MoS (Independent Charge).  He says they need all these privileges including traffic-free roads when they travel, as sometimes he has to attend more than one wedding in his constituency and he has to attend them to keep his constituency people happy.  How ridiculous is this?  Another MoS, Babul Supriyo said that they have toiled hard in the Hot Sun and they deserve these privileges.  How low can these people stoop?  The official spokesperson of BJP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao claims that the privileges are very negligible.  As usual he counters by saying why Congress did not do anything about this when they were ruling.  What he fails to understand is that the People of India have already punished Congress by voting them out.

The PM makes appeal to the nation and requests people to voluntarily withdraw subsidy on LPG but not a word about the unnecessary privileges extended across several categories of VIPs.  Does this sound logical?  Shouldn’t he request all BJP MPs to do away with the Privileges they get?

The privileges range from MAHARAJA Service at the Airports to allotment of Railway Tickets, from blocking traffic to driving down in special lanes, from getting security cover to Bullet Proof Cars.  The list of privileges is simply too much.  Most of the VIPs are not required to go through security checks at Airports, some even drive down till the Aircraft.  If a normal passenger is old or sick and needs wheelchair service, it is provided by the Airlines upon request.  But some Politicians are allowed to drive down their Vehicle till the aircraft due to their Health Reasons. Is this fair? 

The security is so strict in the Airports that even an old man carrying a water bottle is not allowed to take it with him. I witnessed a situation in Coimbatore Airport couple of weeks ago wherein a passenger was carrying water and it was slightly around 400 Ml.  He wanted to take it with him and the security personnel was very generous and he said if you want you drink some here in front of the Security personnel and take the remaining.  How laughable.  When they are so strict, they allow certain category of VIPs unchecked and they even allow our Civil Aviation Minister to carry Match Box.  Carrying Match Box or Lighter may be allowed in other countries but the rule of our land does not permit such act.  Every Airport has a Protocol Officer to make sure that the VIPs are taken care of properly.  Isn’t this too much?  Imagine the Protocol Officer’s plight.  How many hours he must have put in preparing for the Exams to get into a Government Job only to find out that he has to carry the luggage and provide hospitality service to the VIPs. This is all in the name of privileges.

The Politicians are so used to the Privileges that they have begun to feel that they are doing a favour to the nation by asking only for a very minimal privilege as VIPs.  It was so evident during the last Lok Sabha Election when some of the candidates like Chiranjeevi just wanted to walk straight to the booth and cast his vote.  It was good that one of youngster forced Chiranjeevi and his family to follow the line.

The women of this country are not that safe. The brave soldiers in the Border pledge their life in guarding the Borders of the Country.  For the soldiers some would easily say that they have to be prepared to lay down their life if they are in the armed forces.  But don’t you think that a person who wants to serve the people and lead a public life should also be ready for that.  What we see is a fleet of Bullet Proof Cars and commandos?  How is their life more important than that of the citizens of this nation?  The Telengana Government has purchased a fleet of SUVs fitted with Bullet Proof and when their Chief Minister travels, the traffic in whole route comes to a standstill. 

The Privileges and Preference for the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers and Governors can be accepted to an extent, if not fully.  But to extend the similar privileges and preferences to many levels of hierarchy is questionable.

A security cover and few Privileges for Judges are also understandable and acceptable because they handle lot of criminal cases and they always carry a risk of vendetta by the criminals.  A threat from Terror elements against some individuals warrants a security cover for that individual, as long as the threat is perceived as genuine by the Intelligence agencies.  But when you have lot of elected members, be it MPs or MLAs, with criminal track record, why should they get security cover, special treatments in the Airports, etc.  One should not forget that the Great Mahatma did have security threats and he never bothered to have any gun-flashing commandos surrounding him.  He was always there for the people and died for the people.

The beacon culture is a creation of the VIP culture.  It looks more of a status symbol.  The Beacon culture works so efficiently along with Blocking of Traffic and driving in special marked lanes.  Why do we need this beacon lighting for certain category of VIPs.  Beacon for Judges can be excused, only in case they are late to attend the Court.  The Beacons in the Ambulance finds no meaning when Traffic is blocked. How many people have missed trains, meetings and even life due to delay in reaching their destination caused by Traffic blocks?  Still the elite don’t want to give up. Wouldn’t it be better to provide Beacons or other such privileges to Doctors and Surgeons who have to rush to attend an emergency case?

I just heard in TV that the schools should provide a seat for the children or grandchildren of a MP even if the Class is full.  For the Railways, it is mandatory to release a confirmed seat for a Passenger if recommended by certain category of VIPs.  The nice term for that is Emergency Quota.  The whole meaning of Emergency Quota is misconstrued.  Do you know how many EQ tickets are released everyday across those several trains running across India?  All these are done in the name of Privilege.  We have no problem if the VIP or his family or his pre-approved staff utilize this EQ but on the ground it is the friends of friends square root of ‘n’ get his ticket confirmed with these EQ warrants.

The need is to address the VIP Culture and not just bash the VIPs.  It is not just the VIPs (as officially listed) who get certain privileges.  There are a whole lot of others who get preference.  The Councillors, Local Body Members, Press and Lawyers also expect preferences.  In most cases, they all get what they want.  How many times have we witnessed the Police officers trying to please the local body leaders just to be in leader’s good books?

We have seen lot of Vehicles in the last decade or so with Stickers of PRESS and a Sticker Symbol denoting a Lawyer?  Why should this be allowed?  What is the message that these people try to convey.  Are they trying to tell the public not to mess with them or are they expecting preference because they are either Lawyers or from the PRESS?  Earlier only Doctors were using Stickers in their Vehicles to let the Public know there is a Doctor around and can be approached in case of emergency.  What a good cause and thought.  It is an irony that the media staff and Lawyers prefer to display their profession unnecessarily.  Are these two professions so superior and the other professions inferior?

The VIP Culture needs to go.  Enough is enough.  It is not a question of how much it cost the exchequer.  It is the inequality that is forced on us.  It is time that the VIPs realize that privileges and preferences are commanded and not demanded.  The common man is knowledgeable, sensible and humble enough to respect the deserving.  Equality is paramount.  The Government of the day, whether in the Centre or State, should respect public sentiments and cut down on Privileges and shrink the list of eligible people.  

It is said, that even though we got freedom from the British after great struggle we continue to be Ghulams in our own land.