Shiban Khaibri
Our political leaders or “Netas” are and must always be deserving due respect but what about somewhat of overawing or doing a bit of what we in Indian parlance call “netagiri” or high handedness by some of them? Come the time of Darbar move in our State in either of the capitals, we helplessly watch only those roads or pathways, where our Netas have to pass through or their cavalcades speed their vehicles to and fro, getting enviable cosmetic touches; that dusting, brushing, repairing, painting meticulously executed and declaring these roads out of bounds for the common citizens when these privileged ones have to use these roads for official or unofficial purposes. What about those roads in our city of Jammu, even the ones passing through or connecting posh or very busy localities, business establishments and institutions which look having been virtually ploughed, agreeably not immaculately, only to cause ditches and deep pits in clusters to result in extreme hardships to the people and result in damages to the plying vehicles or even lead to accidents. To refresh our memories, the last elections to the State Assembly where unexpectedly large turnout of the voters thwarted all calculations and chicaneries of the Hurriyat and other separatist organisations and a coalition of the NC and the Congress took over to rule our State for six years ending 2015, the then CM , to keep the political pot boiling, said that these elections were for “Sadak, Bijli aur Pani”. Now ask anyone in the State from the previous Government about the status of these three basic utilities during their tenure, not to speak about their quality or any improvement, you shall have to listen to all types of alibi and reasons and “circumstances” besides compulsions (of coalition politics) and hence back to square one. Ask the present coalition in the State about the horrible condition of roads, lanes, streets etc.; perhaps they are still in the State of warming up mode to deliver to say that they are still new and not old as much as of even 100days, the bench mark set by the previous Economist Prime Minister. In the muddled situation, the commoner suffers seeing the priority or the focus of attention of the Government is how fast a passport is issued to Pro -Pakistan Geelani who challenges with impunity, the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
If cash crunch or shortage of funds (like very often) is the reason for not repairing roads and lanes, then it could be argued that how are funds arranged for repairing and face lifting of the roads and bridges frequented by these Netas? Prudence and equity, both demand that if such “ditched” and “pitted” roads are destined to be used by the common citizens, why not the leaders too taste such roads to know how much the common man is suffering. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the then Governor of West Bengal in 2008 voluntarily opted for power cut on daily basis for as many hours as other common citizens around the area of the Raj Bhawan had to undergo, had to face a lot of criticism and even ire from the then Left Government, curiously those, who were otherwise propagating Marxian concepts of the rule of the Proletariat and glorifying the Class War. Very strangely, the “great champion” of the down trodden, the labourers and the peasants and the exploited, the CPI-M Patriarch Late Shri JyotI Basu opposed the Governor’s symbolic gesture of unison in difficulty with the fellow citizens making it explicitly known that a line exists which divides the ruled and the rulers even if it were Left hard core Marxists as rulers.
Our leaders in Indian conditions, especially even when a suit wearing for a few hours by our PM is,desperately laced with confusion,objected to by the Congress Party as if the PMs prior to Modi were not wearing suits and even the “boot ” is objected to , maywell be advised not to live in cosy comfortable bungalows when millions are homeless and then in most of the cases after demitting office, these bungalows are continued to be occupied and not vacated.Do not use luxurious costly petrol driven cars accompanied by fleet of security and other vehicles. Take reasonably as much only, as is required, as your salaries and perks and in most of the cases, try to forego like our PM Modi did as CM of Gujarat.Do not accept gifts and freebies,like very recently reported from Bihar, where wrist watches, water coolers, mobile phones, brief cases, jute bags containing clothes and even energy giver honey were distributed among MLAs .If you enter politics really to serve the people, then you have to be like that in perception as well as in reality, then alone can speeches on Gandhi Jyanti and freedom struggle heroes mean sense, otherwise be honest in saying that politics is all what really matters and matters in individual perceiving, as for example against our expectations , we are seeing in the AaAa Party’s rule in Delhi where high cost of governance, perks and facilities for 21 Parliamentary Secretaries, their renovated rooms and other show of “having got the overwhelming mandate” is part of the Kejriwalain “Suraj”. His enviable style of one hand pointing towards the ground via the mike and the other, pointing towards the high sky appear to be mystique in nature in as much as neither ground nor sky looks to be achieved imminently in Delhi looking to the current style of governance. Good luck to Delhiates .
The other face, rather the irritant face of show of strength of some Netas or their relatives or aides is disregarding the life, liberty, honour and even duty of an ordinary citizen. It may be thrusting upon, prevailing upon, threatening or playing with anybody’s honour. We call it VIP racism which is now, more often than not, fairly objected to and even resisted. Two poster girls, recently, one at Agra and the other at Patna airport, showed exemplary courage to fight this mind set. A car of a UP Neta hit the scooter of a lady in Agra, who suffered damages to her phone plus she was reportedly winked at by Netaji’s gunner when she objected to this highhandedness. The victim saw the Police and the onlookers doing nothing for her, forcing her to object and resist in her own way. She climbed up the bonnet of the costly car, uprooted the Party flag from the car’s hood and smashed the windshield. “They can break my phone, not my spirits”, she said.Cornered ruling Party disowned their supporter Neta who is reportedly on record having earlier filed an affidavit with the EC declaring himself as their candidate.
Around same day, a Union Minister hailing from Bihar, tried to enter the airport from the Exit gate but a lady constable did not allow him. Despite the Minister’s insistence, she stood to her ground and even at the cost of risking her job to take on a union Minister, never allowed him to break the procedure and the rules. The Minister is later reported to have acknowledged his “mistake” and felt sorry for the incident, nevertheless, the devotion to duty by the lady cop is highly praiseworthy and calls for a suitable reward to be given to her plus a promotion to imbibe a similar spirit among other members of the Police force. The need of the hour is good governance and end to “Netagiri” wherever it exists since the Netas are required to treat themselves as the servants of the people especially when the PM treats himself and likes to be known as the “Pradhan Sewak”.
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