VIP Culture Should Be Purged From Our Democracy

Persistence of VIP culture
Conflicting reports surfaced in Bengaluru that an ambulance was held up in traffic for 25 minutes so that Karnataka CM’s convoy could pass. The cries and pleas of the relative of the patient went in vain and the police were unmoved. Even though it was not clear about the fatality of the patient, the public was disgruntled by the behavior of the police which was naturally directed towards the Karnataka CM. This is not the first time a Chief Minister’s convoy brings public life to halt; it is a common phenomenon across India. We have seen other instances where trains have been held up and sometimes airlines staffs get castigated for not waiting for a VIP.

No change in attitude
India has often fumed about the VIP culture of politicians, their huge security convoys and the expenditure of tax payers money which comes along with it. Most of the politicians have shown little intent to end this VIP culture and it has cost a few lives until now. The incident involving the Karnataka CM is a malaise, a cancer spread across the political class, for whom it is these convoys and other perks which lure politicians for high posts.