"Officials should
show courtesy and consideration to MPs and MLAs. officials should rise to
receive the public representatives and see them off too. Arrangements should be
made in advance to receive them in office if a visit is already
scheduled."
"While responding
to MPs and MLAs, the official would see that the communication is legit.
Pre-printed or cyclo-styled replies should be avoided."
Indian Express, September 1, 2015 (from the Delhi government
circular with guidelines 'on practices to be followed while dealing with MPs
and MLAs').
The circular has been issued by
the government headed by a party that, ironically, was formed to struggle
against anything that was 'VIP' in nature. To complete the 'symbolism' behind
the intent, the party was named the 'Aam Aadmi Party (the common men party).
Sky high promises, raising sky high hopes, were made when some of the activists
from the hugely successful (but ultimately botched up) anti-corruption movement
had announced their political foray in the later half of 2012.
Arvind Kejriwal and his party
practiced this, at least in public, before coming to the power once again in
Delhi.
"In developed countries, even PMs wait at bus stands. Why can't
the same happen here. We want to end the VIP culture in this country."
Arvind Kejriwal, BBC, February
14, 2015 - after taking oath as Delhi's chief minister again.
From eschewing guards, placing his safety in the hands of
"God", to dressing in polyester shirts, Kejriwal has rejected these
symbols of privilege enjoyed by a tiny minority of judges, civil servants and
politicians in this city of 16 million people.
"When God decides otherwise, nobody can save you, whatever the
number of bodyguards," he told local media.
"I've been driving for the past few days. I stop at all red
lights. I don't think my time is wasted," Kejriwal told lawmakers.
India Today - January 8, 2014 -
during Arvind Kejriwal's first term as the chief minister of Delhi.
Now, down the line three years,
the promises sound sham and the lid is blown off with acts like this
'circular'.
Arvind Kejriwal and his party
have been openly VIP this time, after storing to the power corridors of Delhi
with absolute majority winning 67 of 70 assembly seats.
Now no one, including Arvind
Kejriwal, talks about 'worthlessness of huge government bungalows for
legislators' or 'big sized cars as their vehicles' or 'designated ministerial
convoys' or 'unnecessary appointments of party members on public money' or
'massive advertising blitzkrieg on exchequer's
money' and so on.
There have been many instances
during this run of the AAP government in Delhi that prove what the AAP talked
in the name of 'anti-VIP measures' was merely an election rhetoric - and once
the purpose was solved with winning the Delhi assembly polls this year - after
failures in running Delhi first time and in Lok Sabha elections last year - the
party decided to shed the tag completely.
After all, the AAP is just yet
another political party now - and as any 'yet another political party' is
deeply rooted in practicing and promoting the 'VIP culture' - so is the AAP - like
any other political party - like other political parties - that use the
'symbolism' of 'anti-VIP culture' to promote 'VIP culture' for their leaders - VIPs
using anti-VIP persona to remain VIPs.
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
