Saturday, May 19, 6:47 pm
Mr Minister Have Some Grace!
MANGAT RAM SINGHAL
SHEILA DIKSHIT
Even if the Delhi Social Welfare Minister Mangat Ram Singhal has denied having a row with the staff of a five-star hotel, it’s time again to introspect the role of VIP’s when it comes to conducting themselves at public places, when subjected to what we as common citizens face at every step of our lives.
On last Wednesday, the security of Delhi’s Maurya Sheraton stopped him to check his car. Rather than appreciating and accepting this much-needed exercise of the security staff, Singhal not only fought with the staff but on Thursday evening, the inspectors from Labour Department, on Friday from Electrical Department and on Saturday the food inspectors visited the hotel, despite two staffers of Maurya met the minister and apologised for any inconvenience.
But, Singhal rather than apologizing for his folly, only reacted by conducting a series of raids by eight departments of Delhi government. The only fault of the hotel security staff was that they refused to exempt the minister’s car from mandatory security check made compulsory at hotels throughout the country after 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai.
The Minister was rightly pulled up by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, but the incident should not pass as a routine and needs to be taken seriously to the extent that the top functionaries in the government should not only hold orientation programmes for those who rule us, but also ensure instilling in them the sense of responsibility towards the society. Politicians need to be taught that they are also common citizens like us and must accept it with dignity, rather than living in a ‘world of clout’ of their own, which will only bring disgrace to them.
The mistake a lot of politicians make is in forgetting they’ve been appointed and thinking they’ve been anointed – time for some reality check guys!! but I guess this Mantri has issued a stop payment on that too
a friend of mine once remarked ‘ Rules are made for fools”. Men holding power in their hands consider themselves exempt from the rules they frame for Aam Aadmi.I am reminded of an incident involving one our former President who was frisked at an US airport. He politely acceded. On the other hand another lady minister while reacting to frisking of Shahrukh khan at the US airport said,” I too was frisked”.
Hope some one tells them, national security is paramount and the staffer who dared to check th minister’s car deserves kudos from the media.
Really disgraceful picture of political powers, the rules & laws have been made equally for all, and when its for the security of common man, these rules must be abode by everyone. I think this must be the first teaching to be given to these politician while taking oath!