Who Took my Red Beacon Away

I recall reading an article a few years back of a politician who said that the biggest kick one gets by becoming an elected representative was the power that accompanies the post . The power to walk your way through a queue in a temple or bypass voters waiting in a queue on election day or having a separate entry at airports or having the top cops salute you as you get out of your car or just having a government car with  red beacon on top of it. Yes a read beacon which when switched on in traffic makes everyone on the road to move and give you way, a red beacon which ensures that the traffic cops shout at anyone on the road that obstructs your way and send a signal that a VIP is on his way.

The move my the union governments and a few state governments to have red beacons removed on all government vehicles is certainly a welcome step in the right direction. For decades many from the political and bureaucratic class had misused these privileges which we had unknowingly acknowledged as their right. A privilege which on many occasions was abused to a point which left a bad taste amongst the millions of honest tax payers of our country. In a hierarchical society like ours such rules are pretty common, these rules are not only discriminative but are outdated and should have removed long back. Except for the Prime Minister,President and the Chief Justice of India I feel no one should be given this privilege. Now that the order has been passed many from the political class who have been pampered for years will find it uncomfortable for a while and will resist this change giving the usual excuse of time wasted in traffic jams which in the process leads to loss of productive time forgetting that the  common man faces these issues on a daily basis. They will try to persuade and seek exemptions from the authorities on theirs should be treated as a special cases and they should be allowed to use the red beacon. They will seek workarounds and possibly ask for a convoy or some may even start using a green or blue beacon by suggesting that the law states only a red beacon is not allowed. 

It is up to the authorities to strictly resist any temptation and fearlessly do their duty as such small steps will slowly add up in changing the culture of politics in India. Such small steps will go a long way in sending the message that the common man is frustrated and angry with the abuse of power and privileges by the political and bureaucratic class that he has now lost his patience.

The main question however remains is who will blink first the implementing authorities or the Neta.