Poonam I Kaushish
In the tempestuous cacophony of the Modi-led NDA Sarkar gearing up to celebrate one-year of rule showcasing its achievements on 26 May, trust the Supreme Court to play party pooper. Enough is enough, and took up cudgels against our rampaging VIPs aka Very Important Persons afflicted by two diseases: Acute Orwellian disorder of “some are more equal than others” and Oliver’s disease, “always asking for more”. Three cheers!
In a landmark judgment last week it underscored that personal glorification and image-making by our netagan at public expense was a “direct antithesis of democratic functioning.” Towards that end, it restrained the Government from publishing photographs of Ministers, MPs and important politicians in Government advertisements in print, TV and internet including Twitter, Face book and other social media sites. As the same tended to build “personality cults” by portraying a Government project as the personal achievement of a leader
Besides, the Apex Court rued that Government ads showcasing feats had become a daily ritual to coincide with an event or occasion. Underscoring, from now on ads could carry photos of only the President, Prime Minister and perhaps the Chief Justice of India. It also allowed publication of “acknowledged personalities” like Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate their anniversaries.
Pertinently, it resurrected last year’s conveniently buried ‘Content Regulation of Government Advertising’ guidelines framed by the three-member N.R. Madhava Menon committee. However, it modified its exemption by striking down inclusion of Chief Ministers and Governors.
Trust DMK supremo Karunanidhi to declare he intends challenging this order. Given that politics in Tamil Nadu revolves around narcissists AIADMK Purtathailvi Amma Jayalalitha and Anna Karunanidhi. This is privately, endorsed by his compatriots in other States.
But, barely had the ink dried on the order, that our “khaas aadmis” in Jharkhand cocked a snook by giving themselves an 80% salary hike. Why blame them, they were only following in the footsteps of badhai bhais MPs who too had unanimously increased their salaries.
Equally scandalous, unsatisfied with special VIP lanes being earmarked at all airports and railway stations so that they can breeze through, our Right Honourables have demanded a “nodal officer” at every airport to extend “courtesy and care” read jump queues with priority check-ins and more freebies: access to plush chargeable airport lounges with food and drinks.
I mean, how ‘chindi’ can they get? Question them? God forbid be prepared for open fury. Main khaas aadmi hoon, tum kaun? Darlings, we pay for your narcissism.
More. They also demand “behaviour sensitization” of toll plazas employees on national highways, many of whom “lack of civility” and “callousness attitude”. Why? Simply because they are asked for toll tax. Sic.
Questionably, do they actually deserve this extra importance? Aren’t symbols of authority contrary to the basic feature of republicanism enshrined in our Constitution? Can our poor country afford our self-styled expensive neo-Maharajas Ministers, MPs and MLAs? Whatever happened to democracy by the people, of the people, for the people?
Undeniably, the unending demands of our polity have left a bitter taste in the aam aadmi’s mouth. Already grappling with sky-rocketing prices, shrinking budgets and rising unemployment, haven’t we had enough? Considering, most rulers barely discharge their responsibilities honestly and honourably. Do our leaders know the reality of Asli Bharat which they ad nauseum vow to protect? Where over 700 millions live below the poverty? Succinctly, they don’t give a damn?
Think, daily the aam aadmi has to go through the harassment of in-your-face security on roads. With an entourage of gun-toting commandos they flaunt their “status” by blocking traffic, jumping red lights cars etc to exhibit their ‘power’ might. God forbid, if anyone questions their misdemeanor be prepared for open fury.
Example: Over Rs 250 crores of the tax payers hard-earned money is spent only on protecting 400 plus VIPs annually. It matters little whether these worthies face no risk or at best little risk yet they refuse to budge without the elaborate security paraphernalia. Moreover, do our jan sevaks need a sepoy to protect them from the janata they profess to serve?
Shockingly, there is a 1,200% rise in policemen cover for VIPs in Mumbai over the last 5 years, in Punjab 703 VVIPs get security. This not all. A 2008 Delhi High Court judgment has been given a quite burial. It reads, “VIP security is obnoxious. It’s nothing but a status symbol, a scandal when a common man is killed on the street and old people strangled and these politicians get so much security at taxpayers’ money”. Alas, over the years we have become used to the ‘more equals’ playing havoc with the people and getting away with it. Wherein there is a wide chasm between the aam aadmi and our khaas aadmis. Leading to increasing frustration, disconnect and contempt for the leaders which results in defiance by people at large.
The tragedy is that even as the country saunters into the 21st century for our high-flying gossamer-thin-skinned neo maharajas the vestige of 19th century India still lingers on. Of which ‘follow-no-rules’ is a fundamental part instead rule by law. All have wily nily junked Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of ‘simple living and high thinking’ interspersed with Nehruvian socialism.
Indeed, if sobriety begins at home, should our netagan be living in tony Lutyens’ Delhi replete with seven-star bungalows? With manicured lawns, growing wheat and vegetables, free furniture, air-conditioners, fridges and maintenance to boot, down to a tube-light, all living like Burra Sahib! Costing the tax payer an extra Rs 60 crore annually.
Further, each house could be sold to wealthy Indians between Rs200-Rs 350 crores, cut into 1000-2000 sq yards plots and auctioned to the highest bidder thereby netting the Government thousands of crores or rented out for Rs 25-50 lakhs monthly. Bad luck, the hoi polloi, packed like sardines live in tin boxes atop each other.
One can go on and on about the hedonism in the year gone by. Of the majority’s growing disillusionment with the system which explodes in rage and in which more and more people are taking law into their own hands. Slowly but surely, the people’s patience is running out, and running out fast.
Modi who doesn’t tire of tom-toming his credentials from a ordinary chaiwallah to Prime Minister should realize that a fundamental precept of democratic governance is equality of all citizens before the law regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religious or political beliefs and affiliations, caste, class or economic status. Unlike a colonial, feudal or totalitarian regime, in a democracy the rule of law applies equally to all citizens. No public servant, not even the President or Prime Minister, is above the law.
Clearly, if India is to be seen as a potential great power, our leaders must dispense with unnecessary privileges. As a new generation comes of age our rulers need to remember a home-truth: Gone are the days when leaders were revered, today they symbolise everything that plagues India, warts and all. It remains to be seen whether our polity will go beyond symbolism or continue to live life Maharaja-size and indulge in inane tokenism? INFA
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