Austerity! At what cost?

At the time when recession is officially lingering at receding line, the ministers and leaders of Congress party are having austerity drive. From the public elected 'heir-apparent' of country Rahul Gandhi to the non-committal Shashi Tharoor, everybody is coping with the cost cutting in his own ways. Media is untiringly picking up each and every piece of information disseminated from New Delhi. However, considering the wild card given by media to Gandhi dynasty, some facts will not be probed ever.

The celebrations were just short of fire crackers when Rahul Gandhi announced to travel by Rajdhani Express. The statement of Louis XV, that punctuality is the courtesy of the king, was given a twist to say that AC travel by one of the most expensive train was the nobility of this young man. After his voyage, some things were never asked:

• were other passengers allowed to seat in the same compartment in which Rahul was seated?
• How much cost was incurred on the travel taking into consideration the security arrangements including security personnel? 
• How did the security at each station managed?
  

 The wide coverage given to the pelting of stones on the train in which Rahul was travelling was also not surprising. It is on the same lines which was adopted while reporting on the famed speech by Rahul, wherein he referred to a woman in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. He portrayed, in moving words, the poor condition in which the woman lived and how he spent one night in the woman's hut. In the latest incident, print and electronic media alike expressed concern over the stone pelting. Surprisingly, the culprits are not caught yet. One national newspaper went on to say that the risk taken by Rahul was unnecessary and he staked country's future in his act. As if something happening to Rahul is directly culmination of India's prospects. The old slogan of Indira is India is resurfacing again. 

 

What is true of Rahul is true for other ministers also. The ministers who have shown readiness to give one month's salary for the drought affected areas in the country will not part with the perks and allowances they get. It is a common knowledge that salaries of these ministers and MPs constitute a fraction of their income. Even actual contribution of that salaries is also not known. Pranv Mukherjee is saying he flies by economy class. Other ministers are expected to follow the suit. But the question is not of flying class but of flying unnecessarily. Why should the ministers and other functionaries fly by air to attend the foundation laying ceremony of projects which take at least a decade to complete? Can't these men work sitting in their offices? While opposing to economy class flying, Sharad Pawar said ministers have confidential files and working in planed with people around causes problem. I don't think passengers in a plane go to the minister's seat and lean over to see what file he is working on. Pawar himself will face much less problem if he cuts his trips to Pune or Baramati from New Delhi over petty issues. But he won't. And he is not alone. Almost each minister in the cabinet is doing the same.

In this scenario, the Congress will do a favour to public if it stops this austerity drama. The country is best prepared to be relieved of public money for minister's expenses. That's what is the norm for last six decades. Once this drama stops, there will be hope that someone will have time and inquisitiveness as to what happened to that woman whom Rahul referred in his speech. Did her life improved after the party won vote of confidence?