Why do these things keep happening in India? Must touch upon two incidents that have taken place in the last 48 hrs. I've always abhorred the VIP culture that's rampant within our country. The sad part is that we, ordinary citizens, accept it as 'one of those things' and laugh it off. A sort of 'conditioning' over the years.....
1. A Minister Confronted.
Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam had to face the ire of a distraught lady doctor at the Imphal airport. She was booked on the Indigo flight to Calcutta and had a connection flight to Patna to board, so that she could attend the funeral of a close relative. But it was not to be. Flights were put on hold/delayed as the President's aircraft was scheduled to land at the airport and the minister was there to receive him. The minister expressed his inability to do anything as he was abiding by the protocol expected of a Presidential visit.
But do we require to give special privileges to the VIPs? Why can't they continue to be 'important' while going about the formalities at the airport/railway station/bus stands along with the ordinary citizens? It would give them a fantastic opportunity to interact with the common man to understand his difficulties, to initiate remedial measures so as to improve things on the ground resulting in good governance!
It's high time we did away with the 'VIP' culture just as we did with the red beacons!!
2. For 'Kolhapur' read 'Chambal'.
About 1,500 farmers had paid Rs.35 lakhs to hire the Swabhiman Express from New Delhi to Kolhapur. They'd gone to New Delhi on 20 Nov to participate in the 'Kisan Mukti Sansad' protests held at Parliament Street to seek one-time waiver of their total farm debt. 1,494 farmers, including 200 women, had boarded the train that left New Delhi at 2200 hrs on Tuesday, passed Mathura around 2 AM and thereafter ended up on a wrong track and ran for three hours, ending up at Banmor station which is 20 kms from Gwalior!
The train was scheduled to reach Kolhapur at 6 AM and one can imagine the shock among the farmers on waking up to see that they're in the Chambal valley! Was it wrongly diverted or did the motorman miss a signal? The jury is still out on that.
One doesn't expect this from Piyush Goyal's railways!
Tailpiece.
Mohanachandran's Medical Bullettin.
AM. Music in his ears........eyes still closed........has slight fever which is being treated. Shifting to the ICU maybe tomorrow. Off ventilator for the last 48 hrs. Hope and pray.....from Laxman.
PM. Continues to be in the same stage as in the morning. Eyes not yet opened but eyeballs are being moved....prayers, prayers and more prayers.........from Vipin.
PS.
Had completely missed out on this bit of news that makes all Indians proud. Manushi Chillar is Miss World '17. She was crowned the 'queen' out of 170 participants at Sanya, China on the 18th of this month. Miss Mexico is the first runner up while Miss England is the second runner up. Manushi, incidentally, is a medical student.
Heartiest congratulations Manushi, it has come to you thanks to hard work and I liked your answer about motherhood being made eligible for the highest remuneration and respect! India is proud of you!!
1. A Minister Confronted.
Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam had to face the ire of a distraught lady doctor at the Imphal airport. She was booked on the Indigo flight to Calcutta and had a connection flight to Patna to board, so that she could attend the funeral of a close relative. But it was not to be. Flights were put on hold/delayed as the President's aircraft was scheduled to land at the airport and the minister was there to receive him. The minister expressed his inability to do anything as he was abiding by the protocol expected of a Presidential visit.
But do we require to give special privileges to the VIPs? Why can't they continue to be 'important' while going about the formalities at the airport/railway station/bus stands along with the ordinary citizens? It would give them a fantastic opportunity to interact with the common man to understand his difficulties, to initiate remedial measures so as to improve things on the ground resulting in good governance!
It's high time we did away with the 'VIP' culture just as we did with the red beacons!!
2. For 'Kolhapur' read 'Chambal'.
About 1,500 farmers had paid Rs.35 lakhs to hire the Swabhiman Express from New Delhi to Kolhapur. They'd gone to New Delhi on 20 Nov to participate in the 'Kisan Mukti Sansad' protests held at Parliament Street to seek one-time waiver of their total farm debt. 1,494 farmers, including 200 women, had boarded the train that left New Delhi at 2200 hrs on Tuesday, passed Mathura around 2 AM and thereafter ended up on a wrong track and ran for three hours, ending up at Banmor station which is 20 kms from Gwalior!
The train was scheduled to reach Kolhapur at 6 AM and one can imagine the shock among the farmers on waking up to see that they're in the Chambal valley! Was it wrongly diverted or did the motorman miss a signal? The jury is still out on that.
One doesn't expect this from Piyush Goyal's railways!
Tailpiece.
Mohanachandran's Medical Bullettin.
AM. Music in his ears........eyes still closed........has slight fever which is being treated. Shifting to the ICU maybe tomorrow. Off ventilator for the last 48 hrs. Hope and pray.....from Laxman.
PM. Continues to be in the same stage as in the morning. Eyes not yet opened but eyeballs are being moved....prayers, prayers and more prayers.........from Vipin.
PS.
Had completely missed out on this bit of news that makes all Indians proud. Manushi Chillar is Miss World '17. She was crowned the 'queen' out of 170 participants at Sanya, China on the 18th of this month. Miss Mexico is the first runner up while Miss England is the second runner up. Manushi, incidentally, is a medical student.
Heartiest congratulations Manushi, it has come to you thanks to hard work and I liked your answer about motherhood being made eligible for the highest remuneration and respect! India is proud of you!!
No comments:
Post a Comment