Eliminating VIP culture Almost the entire nation is beating drums as a minority MNA and an ex-Minister have been forcibly off-boarded from an Islamabad bound aircraft allegedly causing delay in flight departure. I do not know if a Hindu senator from Tharparker is a VIP or not but perhaps Rahman Malik from the opposition still enjoys some clout. However, both were humiliated and Ramesh Kumar was ejected while Rahman Malik was not allowed to board the plane. The PIA has clarified that 90- minute delay was due to technical reasons extended to another 25 minutes due to Rahman Malik’s late arrival. Whatever maybe the reason, but I believe in case of any public grievance, it is always advisable to seek an institutional response rather than taking the law in one’s own hands as it promotes vigilante justice which no civilized society encourages. And while it is not possible to defend any form of VIP culture wherein these privileged individuals enjoy preferential treatment let us also look at the other side of the picture. It has been reported that the ones actively involved in creating the uproar inside the aircraft were not “bloody civilians.” They were perhaps the real VIPs: VIPs who were enjoying preferential treatment by purchasing PIA tickets on discounted rates. VIPs who enjoy special privileges as far as health, education and housing is concerned. VIPs, who determine the defense and critical foreign policy of the country. VIPs, whose institutional expenditures cannot be subjected to Parliamentary Oversight. VIPs, who are at a liberty to write any kind of script, and none can edit that. VIPs, who have never been convicted no matter if they lead the nation to the brink of war, abrogate the constitution or dismember the country. VIPs, who are accountable to none. That VIP culture we all want an end to, will only come to an end, the day when some “bloody civilians” will take a stand against the VIP treatment meted out to the “non-bloody.”
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:05:50 +0000
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