A System Poisoned With VIP Culture

The recent episode of cutting off power supply for 12 hours in around 20 villages of Satna district, Madhya Pradesh for the safe landing of Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s chopper has thrown light on the prevailing ‘VIP Culture’ in India which is brimmed with unwarranted powers.

On May 19, the Madhya Pradesh administration issued a notice, informing the residents of  Satna that power supply in the village would be stopped from 4 pm on May 19 to 6 pm on May 20, as two high voltage power lines pass through the area, where the home minister's chopper was scheduled to land. The notice concluded with the line “Saving of electricity is production of electricity”, showing the lack of empathy the government has for the locals, at a time when temperatures can easily cross 40ºC.

VIPs in India – The staggering number

If there’s anything in the nation which has not experienced a dip in figures, it is the number of times the VIPs have caused an inconvenience to the public. With a staggering amount of 5,79,092 VIPs, India is far ahead of the overpopulated China, which has only 435 VIPs. Other developed countries, such as USA, France, Britain and Japan have designated VIP numbers less than 200, reported The Siasat Daily.

Advocating equality and at the same time showing off one’s privileges in an ostentatious manner, which foster inequality, is a wide spread phenomenon in the nation. And according to a Firstpost report, much of the VIP culture is associated with the lack of education regarding the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in a democracy.

Entitlements and Privileges

While the VIP’s boast about the privileges and entitlements receive and demand, they often forget that it is the citizens, whose plights they are least concerned with, are the ones who had voted them into their position of power.

Marked by protests, adjournments, and very little constructive debate, the 2018 Budget Session of Parliament was the least productive in almost a decade. While only 1% of the time was dedicated in discussing the Bills, the same year saw an increase in a set of MP’s allowances, increasing the financial burden on exchequer by Rs 39 crore.

In addition to this, various constitutional schemes have been set up which mandates pensions to ex-MPs, under the pretense that their dignity must be maintained, even after they complete their tenure as parliamentarians.

Intially, an MP, in order to become eligible for receiving a pension, had to complete four years in the Parliament. However, the section was done away with retrospective effect by an amendment in 2004, entitling Members of Parliament of every central government, including the governments which severed merely for 13 days, to such privileges.

Moreover, a data compiled by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, shows how the appointment of three police personnels to protect each VIP, leaves just one for every 663 common man.

Is every person being treated as important?

On April 30 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann ki Baat’ sent out a call to embrace ‘EPI (Every Person is Important) culture’ as opposed to the empowered treatment of the VIPs.  

Soon after, a nation-wide ban on red beacon on cars was announced in 2017 and quite contrary to the idea proposed by the Prime Minister, many ministers refused to let go of the lal-batti, which is considered to be the symbol of comanding power and privileges.

Instances of the ruling elite classes remaining as entitled as before and the poor being denied of their rights constantly, have become a routine in the country.

A prime example of this was the alleged damage of farmland by BJP workers in Madhya Pradesh in order to build a helipad for Amit Shah’s arrival.

In an another absurd incident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was seen being carried by two policemen during his visit to a flood-hit area of Amanganj Tehsil in Panna district.

A society, poisoned with a VIP culture that elevates office bearers to a level of worship, inculcates widespread discrimination. In such a scenario, questions regarding the foundations of equality and a dignified life should haunt the so-called protectors of Constitution.