Add to this other constituency compulsions such as the inevitable plethora of social and cultural functions, the local party level activities, the need to meet, greet and communicate with party seniors, not to mention fund-raising, fund distribution and media management... you soon realise why they have little time to review and enact legislation. Nothing wrong with that you might say, except that if at least some of those very energies were expended by the legislator on addressing administrative and legislative weaknesses, many of their interventions would not be required.

Was not equality for all our collective mission? Then why are we more shocked by this attack on an MP? At least much of the electorate believes that for the redressal of grievances, the legislator is no longer the point of appeal but, instead, the universal funnel through which all administrative matters must be initiated, tracked and concluded.

Consequently the failings of the system need not become the failings of the legislator for whom the end result very often is of little consequence for it is the legislator’s endeavours that bring far more brownie-points. The system need not change, for the current conditions bring the legislator far more constituency casework than a more efficient and equitable system would. It is this symbiotic relationship that arises from systemic weakness and the legislator’s compulsions.

Returning to the unfortunate BJP MP Virendra Kumar, who has the writer’s deepest sympathies, for the attack was not only planned but viciously executed to cause maximum harm — indeed, he is lucky to be alive. That the police have responded efficiently is not in doubt. But would they have for most ordinary citizens?

... contd.