By the Editor: Siddharth Sehgal

Knowing that Lal Batti or Red Beacon that meant VIP treatment on streets and other places where you can cut the queue using its influence, at least the common man can have a little sense of consolation that in the logjam of traffic that clogs our roads he and Mr. Minister will be equal. The dignitary will be sharing the frustration, the delay, the noise and the air pollution with the little guy.

It’s a welcome step from center to do away with a symbol that symbolized the entitlement and status that so many politicians carried around with a condescending air. Netaji’s convenience and inconvenience became the priority for everyone wherever the ‘Lal Batti’ went. It’s a good start to end that VIP culture that’s so much ingrained in our system. It’s such an infectious disease that went from Minister, department secretaries to right down to babus and peons. It’s a common sight in many government offices where everyone is a VIP in their own right, people would come late, do work when they feel like doing and hardly any sense of accountability prevails. I was at an award function few days ago where the chief guest came two hour late in fact he came when refreshments were being served just before the wrap-up. He had all the pomp and retinue that befits his rank but who is to question. This step should be a starting point to end US vs. THEM culture.

I think our politicians can live without a lot of perks of power for example the sheer number of bodyguards that accompany even the smallest of the party officials. Except for high ranking ministers, PM, President and other public officials whose safety we should be really care about, I think those policemen and NSG commandos can be used elsewhere, may be in Kashmir. In Gwalior, I remember at the railway station, whenever a politician who held a post that mattered in the party (any party for that matter) would pay a visit, a whole, I’d say, rabble of hundreds party supporters would be present to welcome or sendoff the person. It didn’t matter if people got trampled over or someone missed the train or if it became a nuisance to elderlies or women. They were oblivious to that anxiety that people around them felt but here I’d also like to mention another example of former Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee whom my dad saw on railway station with handful of party officials, family members and aides whom you can count on fingers and this is when he was a leading BJP. No fuss, no pomp or crowd.

I hope that this initiative that levels the playing field would go a long way. With Lal Batti that VIP culture and mindset should go away too.