Opinion Lal batti district

We are yet to evolve as a democracy mature enough to adhere to the principle that all people are equal,no matter what their situation in life. The framers of our constitution were conscious that equality was a tough goal for our fledgling democracy,given caste and our well-entrenched feudal system. But,ironically,democracy itself threw up a new pecking order. People holding public office and politicians assume that they are more equal than the rest of us.

Just a day before the Gates arrest there was a hue-and-cry in Parliament because prominent politicians like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad learnt that their names were included in a list of 210 whose security had to be downgraded. P. Chidambaram,who himself sets an excellent example by opting for minimal security,is the first home minister courageous enough to order that security should be reserved for those holding constitutional positions or those facing a credible threat. Nevertheless,following the parliamentarians’ fury,the government backed down.

Over a quarter of the Delhi police force’s strength of 60,000 is today deployed in protecting 400 odd VIPs . This huge number is supplemented by manpower from the paramilitary forces. According to India Today there are 45,000 policemen guarding 13,000 VIPs in India,costing over Rs 600 crores. A sizable section of the National Security Guard (NSG),our crack unit of commandos for swift anti-terrorism operations,is misused on VVIP protection detail.

Unfortunately in India enhanced security cover is seen as a status symbol. The more cars and policemen in his entourage,the more self-important the politician. Even the type of policeman in your security detail matters. NSG commandos are so coveted that some chief ministers get their security guards to dress in Black Cat-style uniforms,hoping that the public will not know the difference.

Security is one aspect which differentiates our political class from the aam aadmi,but there are many others. A British MP visiting India recently pointed out that he had far fewer privileges than his Indian counterpart. Our MPs have a wide range of facilities from securing school admissions,to procuring out-of-turn rail and airline reservations,gas connections,complimentary tickets to the cricket,and so on. Even their relatives and followers demand special favours and exemptions. The other day,as I stood in a queue outside a multiplex,I saw the man in front of me waving a letter from an MP in Haryana,and insisting rather threateningly that he should be given tickets — even though there was the show he wanted was a full house.

It is not just our MPs and ministers,but a wide range of public servants,from judges to IAS secretaries,to members of various statutory bodies and commissions,that assume they are a breed apart. Trappings of power — cars with red lights on top,spacious government bungalows in Lutyens Delhi,unlimited free phone calls,free electricity,exemption from normal security checks at airports and so on — lead them to lose touch with reality. It is because of the lal batti mindset that MPs felt it necessary to demonstrate their anger for three days over the fact that the former President Kalam was screened by Continental Airlines. While he had no problems,MPs were outraged on his behalf. After all,former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had such a sense of his own importance that he refused to fly to Australia for a conference because the Australian government could not assure him that he would not have to undergo a security check like any other passenger. Clearly in democratic India our netas believe that they are more equal than the aam aadmi.

coomi.kapoor@expressindia.com