Hankering after fame and eventual immortality is a common human weakness and may be forgiven. What is unforgivable is expenditure of huge public funds for erecting of statues and monuments in honour of a current Chief Minister and the ruling party in the State. Legality apart, such extravagant expenditure is immoral because these funds could well have been utilised for betterment of the indigent and marginalised segments in the State. Social conscience of any enlightened leader should revolt at such obscene waste of public funds. Unfortunately, conscience is conspicuous by its absence. A law to curb such expenditure is sorely needed. But it will be some seasons before the requisite law is enacted. In the course of hearing of a writ petition filed in the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the UP Government’s said action, a Bench of Justices B.N. Agrawal and Aftab Alam recently observed that the case “involves constitutional issues. There will be colossal wastage of money if we order demolition of the constructions. It will be a wasteful expenditure. You cannot fritter away public money like this.” These timely observations should send the right message to all ministerial and political megalomaniacs.

Thieves on rampage

Modern day thieves are not content with petty thefts. Their activities extend even to Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is reported that a computer monitor, CPU and three pairs of exercising dumbbells were stolen from a health club on the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises. Apparently this thief is a health freak with a strong attraction for dumbbells. If the miscreant is caught and ultimately sentenced to imprisonment, the jail authorities may consider giving him a pair of Tihar jail dumbbells for compulsory exercise. Besides he should be required to give lessons in physical exercise with dumbbells to other jail inmates. Health after all is important.

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