Abodh Sharma
ET Report
Jammu, May 11: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis has raised his voice against VIP racism, issuing directions to the cops not to salute him every time he passed by them. While Maharashtra CM's step has been widely hailed across the country, the question remains if there would be any emulators back home of the example set by him.
VIP racism has been pursued religiously in the name of security in Jammu and Kashmir, with not only the political class, but the top babus plundering government resources in terms of vehicles, security and much more. Since security is a forbidden issue, no information is available even under RTI act that would give an idea, how much of the tax payers money in this lesser state is marauded to make politicians and babus feel secure.
While Maharashtra CM, who is fraught with security threat from the naxals and the terrorist groups, has pruned down his security from 15 convoys to 5 and recently to just 2;in J&K, the list of protected VIPs has not only been increasing every year, but their security has been found inadequate every time it is reviewed. It is a pity that some police officers and top bureaucrats have engaged a handsome strength of security men to guard them and their families so that they feel not just secure, but also a class apart.
Blatant misuse of beacon light on the vehicles has been going on in the state for quite some time and despite clear guidelines on its authorization, many of those who do not figure in the list have been openly using it to give masses an impression that they belonged to a superior class. After the Apex court called for restraint in use of Beacon lights and even after Former DGP Ashok Prasad and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led by example, pulling off beacon lights from atop their vehicles, neither the Ministers, nor police bosses exhibited the spirit to emulate their bosses.
It is strange that many of the BJP ministers in the present coalition government who not very long ago mingled with common masses and gave sermons against VIP racism have demanded new SUVs and can be seen moving around in cars supporting flashy beacon lights, with policemen in their escort and pilot cars arrogantly signaling commoners to make way for the new political masters. More astoundingly, many of the VIP cars have once again got their windows glasses shaded ignoring the stringent directions of the Supreme Court. |
