Where only VVIPs matter

Poonam I Kaushish
Political Delhi is in the throes of VIP aka Very Important Person tremors once again. Three incidents which showcase the ugly, uglier and the ugliest of our aaj ke rajneetas. Main VIP hoon, tum kaun? Which translates in to boorish behaviour, shrilling lal batti sirens, posy of mean-looking gun-wielding security, retinue of chamchaas et al. The kind that spells bad news for the poor aam aadmi. Toh kya?
First, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis delayed an Air India flight to US with 250 passengers by one hour as his Principal Secretary forgot to get his passport which had the valid visa. Shockingly, the missing visa was discovered only at the boarding gate by a vigilant officer. How and why was the official allowed to go through by the immigration and customs authorities? Why should our law makers be exempt from security checks? Obviously, all were busy in jee huzooring instead of doing their duty!
Worse, Fadnavis threw a tantrum and refused to travel without his Secretary, who could jolly well have taken the next flight instead of delaying and inconveniencing passengers. Of course, VIPs don’t believe in extending basic courtesies. Power is always right.
Second, the Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju did one better. He not only delayed the Leh-Delhi flight by around an hour but also three passengers were deboarded to accommodate him and two others. Okay, to be fair he was only informed on boarding, but nothing prevented our Mantri from deplaning and insisting the family be reallocated their seats.
Three, film star-MP Hema Malani’s Mercedes collided with an Alto near Jaipur injuring her and four in the other car. While our Right Honourable with minor injuries was taken post haste to the nearby Fortis hospital in Jaipur, the critically injured family had to wait for an ambulance and then driven to a Sarkari hospital one-and-a-half hours away in Dausa. The delay resulted in the death of the two-year old girl.
Questionably, wasn’t it our jan seveka’s duty to ensure the critically injured were attended too immediately? Why didn’t she take them along with her to the hospital?  Simply, because the aam aadmi is just aam.
The crowning glory is that while our valiant ex-servicemen staged an unprecedented dharna in Delhi demanding the implementation of the promised one-rank-one-pension scheme, our MPs demand a 100 per cent pay hike from Rs 50,000 per month to Rs one lakh, doubling of constituency allowance from Rs 45,000 to Rs 80,000, increase in personal staff salary from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000, pension from Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000.
This is not all. Enhancement of daily allowance from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000, official vehicle for MPs, 48 air tickets up from 34, canteen facilities for grocery items, 10 air tickets to ex-MPs, CGHS facilities for their dependents including grand children etc.
Why do they need a raise? Everything is paid by us, taxpayers anyway. Think. Our netagan live in tony Lutyens’ Delhi replete with seven-star bungalows with manicured lawns, growing wheat and vegetables. They get free furniture, air-conditioners, fridges and maintenance to boot, down to a tube-light, aggregating over Rs 60 crore annually.
It doesn’t end just there. Each MP is entitled to free water upto 4000 kl per annum and electricity upto 50,000 units. Beside, 1,50,000 local calls for 3 telephones and 50,000 free local calls for internet annually. Down to washing of sofa covers and curtains every three months!
As also a guard. Do our jan sevaks need a sepoy to protect them from their janata they profess to serve? Even as their constituents continue to grovel outside soliciting a favour from their undata. Isn’t it absurd that they self-decide when and how much raise they want!
Raising a moot point: Can our poor country afford expensive legislators?  Haven’t we had enough? Why should our post-Independence ruling mai-baaps nurse a feudal mindset and demand differential treatment? Do they actually deserve this extra importance? Are these people the representatives of the common man or are they peers of a new realm they have created?
Considering, most netas barely discharge their responsibilities honestly and honourably? Why should the ever-ballooning list of VIPs feel their selfhoods are at stake when asked to follow the rules? Whatever happened to democracy by the people, of the people, for the people?
Alas, we seem to live in an India where only VVIPs matter. 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.
Moreover, they are afflicted by two diseases: Acute Orwellian disorder of “some are more equal than others” and Oliver’s disease, “always asking for more”. They are two sets of laws: rule of law for us where innocents are jailed for trivial crimes and rule by law for them whereby the ‘more equals’ play havoc with the people and get away with it. No IDs’, no frisking and long queues, cars jumping red lights to exhibit their ‘power’ might. God forbid, if anyone questions their misdemeanor, be prepared for open fury.
But it doesn’t end just there. Recently, Lok Sabha witnessed an ugly scramble for VIP status. Livid MPs yelled blue murder over the down-grading of their security cover. “We are vital for the country… you will have blood on your hands…,” they yelled. Really?
The tragedy is that in 21st century India our ruling neo maharajas hang on to the vestige of 19th century. Bruised by a feudal oligarchy, colonial hangover and pummeled self-esteem our leaders have combined the power of democracy, vote-bank politics and populism to become a force to reckon with for acquiring and retaining power. Barricading themselves from growing public anger with more security and erecting metal nets at rallies.
Clearly, Modi needs to cry a halt to this VIP racism. Stop all unnecessary privileges, financial pampering and perks to our legislators, make their incomes and salaries taxable and stop pensions to ex-MPS. Our polity to realize that any increase in privileges is co-terminus with an increase in accountability.
Time to adopt the American model where the US House and Senate members salary $174,000 per year, lower than private mid-level executives. Or the Japanese and French form where MPs salaries are fixed to the highest paid bureaucrats. In Germany, MPs get remuneration adequate to ensure their independence.
In UK the Review Body on Senior Salaries advises the Prime Minister on the pay and pension of MPs and Ministers. In Switzerland MPs do not get any salary or allowance; they just get paid leave from their employers on the days of Parliament’s session.
Importantly, our Right Honourables need to recognize that they must deserve before they can desire. It remains to be seen whether our polity will continue to live life Maharaja-size and reduce hum-toh-janata-ke-sevak-hain to mere tokenism? Prime Minister Modi calls himself Pradhan Sevak. Will his MPs practice what he preaches? Truly and urgently?  INFA

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