Jammu, January 18: There is a sustained campaign all over India to end the VIPism in every sphere of life particularly politics and bureaucracy and many states and departments of central government have already taken steps to begin the process but in J&K the VIP culture is increasing by the day and pushing the common man to wall literally.
The VIP culture in India dates back to monarchy but the VIP culture that is being practiced since Independence owes its origins to British Imperialism in India when we learnt to differentiate between ‘Gora Sahebs’ and others which was supposed to end after we got freedom but unfortunately our own people kept it alive and now the ‘Gora Sahebs’ have been replaced by our own ‘Kala Sahebs’ of India but the fact is that the VIPism continues unabated.
The VIP culture in this troubled state in particular has assumed new dimensions with political and bureaucratic oligarchy refusing to listen to saner voices to abolish the ‘Lal Bati’ culture and let the representatives of the public and servants of the public act as they are mandated and not as goons under the shadow of gun wielding security personnel.
The irony with the state is that here everything that is intended to bring respite to the masses becomes a tool in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats to beat the common man with and show the supremacy to those who have chosen them to govern.
The top bureaucrats and politicians of every hue are using the trouble in the state to their own benefit converting this terror ridden state into an industry where ruling class enjoys all the privileges of life while the common man finds it difficult even to breathe.
The security concerns that escalated due to militancy in the state have been a big dilemma for the common people who are being harassed day in and day out by the security paraphernalia accompanying their so called representatives and the public servants as they are herded like cattle whenever some so called VIP is around a public place.
The traffic jams are the worst experience for the common and as while they struggle it out to make a way any VIP movement makes it more messier as the accompanying security persons act like goons by brandishing weapons and threatening people to step aside so that the VIP can move and manage the way out for the VIP even if that means more hours for the common man to clear out of the mess.
The VIP culture shows an imperialist attitude of the VIPs which include top IAS, IPS officers and ministers and other elected representatives while the erstwhile ministers sometimes have to taste fruits of their own doing as the lost power brings them down in the VIP ladder.
The campaign against VIP culture is not without any reason as this VIPism has eaten into the vitals of Indian democracy and it is the main roadblock that prevents development of the nation.
J&K would have to end the VIPism and colonial mentality if at all it wants to progress and join the national mainstream.
The problem with our VIPs is that if they have a threat why are they moving around and creating nuisance and harassing the common man. If they feel threatened let them remain indoors and run the system from there otherwise they can take a lesson or two from the Prime Ministers of other countries who act as common men while traveling in public places and at times keep standing when traveling in public transport.
The UK Prime Minister David Cameroon is an example to take inspiration from.
But in Jammu and Kashmir security people literally push common men to wall to make way for their ‘masters’ without caring a fig for the fundamental rights of the people.
It is time such brutality is stopped for which The Earth News has taken the initiative to expose so called VIPs through these columns regularly till the culture ends in the state to make it a VIP free and vibrant democracy. (Repeat)