All TV channels, newspapers and websites have been buzzing with SRK being detained at a US airport and subjected to security checks and questioning. Before that it was our ex-president Mr. Kalam being stopped by a US airline security official. The Indian government has done itself no favours by coming out against these incidents. Mr. Kalam, being the soft spoken and learned person he is, chose to ignore the issue, whereas SRK had no choice but to do what he was told. There is a difference between both these incidents. One obeyed the law as his duty and the other was forced to obey the law. Since Mr. Kalam himself chose ignore the incident, we will also not dwell on it. But what’s with SRK?
India is the only country where we have a VIP, VVIP, VVVIP and all adjacent categories for almost everything. Whether you want to get through airport security or get a special darshan in tirupati or get through traffic snarls (by creating one) or have security to protect you from untoward elements of society or even watch a cricket match. We have VIP and VVIP passes and tickets for almost everything.
For a moment, let us forget about reservations or the quota system. The VIP mindset is what is creating problems for India. You could be a VIP in your country, but do not even expect any other country to give you the same treatment. And why should they? Of course, I can understand the case with leaders like a Prime Minister or a President, but why does our government make a hue and cry about a bollywood actor being subjected to security checks and questioning. Thousands of Indians will be getting into the US everyday and many of them will be subjected to questioning and checks. Does the government do anything for these people or even take notice of such incidents? There are more muslims in India than in our neighbourhood. Many of them would have travelled to the US and subjected to questioning and checks, even if they have a different sounding name. Does the government care about such people? What makes SRK so different from the rest of the people trying to legally get into the US?
Our government needs to come out of the VIP conundrum. When it comes to issues of national significance and law, everyone should be treated the same way, irrespective of whether you are a minister or a cricketer or a bollywood actor or just a normal person like you and me. Also, who stopped our government and CISF from screening Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie when they came to India? Who stopped them from putting Hillary Clinton through security, when she came to India? We do not do our job properly and our home minister has the audacity to say that US security went overboard. I have a question for you, Mr. Minister. After September 2001 (9/11), how many extremist attacks have taken place in the US? And since then how many attacks have happened in India? The US became so serious about security after 9/11, that no one has been able to touch them after that one attack. This shows how much that one incident has affected them and they are taking all precautions and measures to ensure it does not happen again, even if it is at the cost of stereotyping certain sections of society or annoying someone like SRK. They do not care what others will think or say, as long as they are able to protect their country and citizens.
What happens in India, Mr Minister? Extremist attacks and loss of innocent lives have become an annual ritual. We will need some monster database to keep count of the number of attacks in India, since September 2001. Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahemdabad, Surat to name a few and not to mention Kashmir. What have you done after each attack? Expelled someone, blamed our neighbours and issued statments like 'we will not keep quiet'. Have you done anything to ensure it does not happen again? Security is beefed up for a couple of months after the attacks and then all back to square one. The security vigil is at its best in the days running up to Independence day and Republic day. Are the people carrying out such acts, fools, to even try something when security is at its best? Who are you trying to fool? Security should be at its best around the clock, irrespective of the time of the year or who the person is? Clearly shows that you have not learnt from the past. Even when you catch the culprit, you give him a lawyer and feed him mutton biryani. If evidence such as acts of extremism on live television is not enough, then what do you want? Another IC-814 and then you will release him and blame airline security.
What you need to do is put everyone through security checks, irrespective of who they are -Cricketers, bollywood personalities, industrialists, politicians and the who’s who of our society. Let them come to the airport 3 hours in advance like any of us, stand in a queue and get through the motions of travelling by air. But there is a point of contention. All these people, put together will not be even 1% of the vote bank, but contribute 100% to your party fund. So you cannot and will not do this. We pay taxes to you and you work for us. If you do not do your job properly, we should have an option of not paying tax as we get nothing in return. Will you agree to that? I am not playing devil's advocate, but merely questioning the value our taxes.
Every citizen of India is a VIP. Every citizen of India has the right to education, food, healthcare and other basic necessities of life. Every citizen of India has an equal right to have security for his life and belongings.
High time our government realizes that they have to provide this. They need to work to ensure they meet public expectations. And please Mr Minister, stop blaming security officials in another country, who are, by the way, just doing their job, which you might never understand
also "Sri Sri Sri"s
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