They come to you with folded hands and gifts/promises. Once elected, they all jump onto the VIP bandwagon with privileges,perks,immunity from prosecution, and more superior beings amongst them with VVIP status. We title them as honourable. This undoubtedly has lead to self importance and arrogance. Home minister Chidambaram during his stint,reviewed and somewhat reduced the police protection status and after the Nirbahya case, the Supreme Court has asked details as to why the politicians are discriminated vis a vis the common man for exclusive red lights and disproportionate protection. Z plus security entails at least 20 personnel at any one time for one VIP. In Delhi, more than 12 are needed to guard each of the 427 VIPs, besides the guards posted at their homes! No MPs are entitled for red lights,but they all reportedly display one! At the Nuns and Roses musical ,supposed to start at 6PM,the nuns,children orchestra (all tuned and ready) and audience were waiting for the Governor Chief Guest at Garcia de Orta , to start the show! A special sofa was kept for him. After patiently waiting for around 40 minutes, I prompted the staff to enlighten the audience as to what is happening. Someone thereafter announced "Please bear with us, the governor is on his way and maybe there is a traffic jam or his driver driving slow........" The show started almost an hour late. Surely the orchestra could have played for public, awaiting the chief guest. I don't know who is responsible,but this sort of routine disregard and disrespect I notice, with Viceroy like deference,is demeaning and not acceptable in a democracy! These guys have all the facilities,police protection and escort of various personnel, free modern communications and so on. They do not have to travel by bus, find that there is nowhere to park etc. Yet we have to suffer their pleasure! Why do we keep tolerating this?
