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Journalism of Courage
Exemptions and privileges for MPs only widen the gulf between them and the people
Porbandar MP Vitthal Radadia was recently caught on camera,pointing his gun and threatening a toll booth attendant who asked him to present an original ID document. Though he later claimed that the gun-waving was only a piece of theatre,it was obviously an attempt to intimidate those who had not shown him the deference that he considered his due. Radadia was furious because his status as an MP entitled to glide smoothly past toll points had not been acknowledged. His difference from the rest of us had been fleetingly questioned.
Instead of being being allowed an income commensurate with their admittedly hard work,a range of roundabout allowances and breaks are are bestowed on them. This encourages a corrosive culture of entitlement,where those who represent us miss no chance to show us how they are better than us. This May,MPs made a bid for red beacons on their cars,to announce their important presence and demand right of way on the streets. Their number 21 spot in the order of precedence is also much resented. Last year,the privileges panel drafted an elaborate circular of how government secretaries must behave,which included personally receiving and seeing off the MP from the office gate,inviting them to every Central and state government function,seating them according to protocol and other absurd,self-important demands. While this is only one manifestation of a larger hierarchy-obsessed public culture,it is particularly egregious coming from members of Parliament who stand for the sovereign people.
