Unreasonable VIPs

Krishna Rao IYR's write-up 'The perceived privilege of VIPs' (The Hans India 19th June) is something more than elaborate and explanatory vis-a-vis the level of protocol-gifted status that our ex-ministers perceive that they are entitled to enjoy and carry with them. Here I want to be for a generalisation of happenings, not taking the case of Chandrababu Naidu in point.

In majority of places, Rao has laudably called a spade a spade. Notwithstanding a bouquet of points attempted by him to drive home the veracity of his caption, I would beg to differ from him, mainly on his one statement. Coming to the conclusion of the columns, he says, 'Security checks are devised keeping the safety of the passengers in mind not that of the VIP'.

Here, arises an imperative need for an inevitable question. Should a VIP that as a Chief Minister enjoyed the uniqueness of 'no frisking' till yesterday, be divested of that coveted status and underrated so much so he need be frisked at the airport with a view to ensuring the safety of his fellow passengers merely because he is an ex-CM today?

In clearer words, passengers on board an aircraft need not panic or get worried about their safety with a Chief Minister as co-passenger. And their safety becomes at stake and peril once the same gentleman becomes an ex-CM today. Can there be any logic herein? Doesn't it sound absurd? In a sense, a rule of double standard?

In a developing country like ours and where true democracy is supposed to reign supreme, is there any need for pampering our popular 'Ex-s' and VIPs with free bungalows and travels, perks, privileges, etc., all at the cost of our exchequer that the tax-payers' hard-earned money falls into? Above all, it should be the decent and dignified prerogative of the clan of our 'Formers' and so-called VIPs to to disown, on their own, the so-called status and perks and privileges as well. It is the people that should accord one the tags and status he deserves. We should not rate and rank ourselves the high and classic. Perceiving a non-existent entity is so cheap.

-E Sethuramalingam, Kollam