DIRTY HABITS STRONGLY PERSISTING The habit of politicians encouraging and putting up illegal hoardings/posters prolIferates despite rules and even courts prohibiting the same! Desicration of private and public property and even sticking/pinning posters( trees not spared) and ugly hoardings, traffic lights not spared etc cluttering the area are ugly blocking the view and what little is left of the natural scenery. In Tamilnadu recenly, death of a girl was the result of a collapsing illegal hoarding advertising an official's son wedding! In Uttar Pradesh it is ahocking to know that for forty years the State ( namely public) was legally paying the Chief Ministers and MLA colleagues income tax dues. Last year it was reportedly around 86 lakhs and it has only sought to be stopped now after exposure in the media! The government hides vital information from the public, has diluted RTI and it appears they are generally above the laws that apply to you and me. They can park their vehicles in no parking areas and throw around their VIP weight with impunity. The PM has asked them to shun this arrogance but will not pass a law to ensure or implement it. Why should not politicians get to increase own salaries and perks at their own whims and fancies? Ex CM Chandrababu Naidu and CM Jaganmohan Reddy are reportedly using the State resources to fight their personal family feuds. Powerful ministers can do whatever they want imposing own will irrespective of environment protection laws, people's legitemate objection and other rules! What about the citizen's utter disregard for rules, basic civic sense and sounds of violence everywhere? Our Constitutional rights and democracy itself is being eroded and why does it not strike us that we are greatly to blame by our silence and own deeds of commission and ommision! Public transport has clearly marked seats reserved for senior citizens and ladies. I find college girls in the senior citizens seats and guys in the ladies seats. When they see senior citizens and ladies standing up struggling to ho;d on, they give a damn! The conductor turns a blindv eye. People spit out of a moving bus and at the market walls. What sort of a nation are we? Is this our culture?
