How right or wrong is CM Bhajan Lal’s move to end VIP culture?

Bhajan Lal Government has taken a bold and commendable decision by ending the ‘VIP culture tradition’ that has been going on for decades in Rajasthan. People have said, ‘If there is a Chief Minister, then it is like this’.

A historic decision by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, a big initiative towards ending VIP culture. That is, now the CM should also be treated like a common man. Since the CM is also a common man and a public servant, he should be treated like a common man. This is the reason why CM Bhajan Lal, who was connected to the grassroots level, took a big decision. He has instructed the DGP that now the Chief Minister will also walk on the road like a common man. This means that his convoy will now move through the traffic like a common man and will stop in the traffic when there is a red light.

Earlier, about 10 to 15 minutes before the departure of the CM’s convoy, the traffic on all sides was stopped due to VIP movement. After the convoy left, there was a traffic jam on the roads for a long time. At such times, even the ambulances coming from there used to get stuck in the traffic jam due to which serious patients faced a lot of trouble. Since JLN Marg is a busy area of the city and due to the CM’s residence near OTS intersection, there is VIP movement several times a day, he has taken a sensitive decision and freed the people of the state from this jam.

This can be called a commendable step to enhance the image of grassroots leader Bhajan Lal Sharma. By taking this big decision, Bhajan government has made even a big post like Chief Minister look easy. When the CM’s convoy stopped in the traffic for the first time under this initiative and the people standing there saw it, they spontaneously said ‘Chief Minister ho to aisa’. This step can also be called commendable and bold because Chief Minister Bhajan Lal has seen the traffic coming to a halt many times due to his convoy. CM also observed that due to VIP movement, common people have to face a lot of problems, due to which this decision was taken. That is, this notion has already settled in the minds of the people that the Chief Minister pays attention to every small problem and also acts on it. Before now, such a decision had rarely been taken in the political history of Rajasthan.

It is also noteworthy that only 3 months have passed since Bhajan Sarkar was in power. By ending the ‘tradition of VIP movement’ that had been going on for many decades, the CM has definitely taken a big and successful decision. Due to this decision, the convoys of the Chief Minister as well as other VIPs will have to stop at the red light and that too without blowing the hooter.

In a way, this latest decision of the Rajasthan government has once again pointed towards ending the VIP culture. Perhaps this is the first time of its kind in Rajasthan where an initiative has been taken to end VIP culture. Let us also remind you that in September 2013, the Supreme Court in one of its decisions had asked for limited use of red lights. Under this, on May 1, 2017, the Central Government had ended the culture of red beacon in VVIP vehicles. After that, there was a ban on installing red beacon on any vehicle including the President, Prime Minister and Chief Ministers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gujarat in the year 2022 also came into limelight when he was going from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar by road. At that time, along with the common people, even the ambulance was stuck in the traffic jam to evacuate his convoy. Immediately the Prime Minister stopped his convoy and got the ambulance taken out. The video of this incident went viral on social media and was also appreciated. Recently, during his visit to Varanasi in December, PM Modi had slowed down his convoy to make way for an ambulance. There is no doubt that such incidents and decisions make the image of leaders bright and respectable.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has also allegedly established his ‘Ram’ image in the minds of the people of the state by ending the VIP culture on the roads. That means ‘Ram Rajya’ will run under his rule where every kind of problem of the people of the state will be seen and heard, after which it will also be solved. This decision of Bhajan government will become a medium of inspiration for other states also and will help in smoothening the way for the concept of considering this ‘people’ as ‘Janardan’. The conclusion is that the decision of the state CM Bhajan Lal Sharma to end the VIP culture is a saluting decision and many such sensitive decisions are hidden in the future which will definitely prove the Bhajan government as a service-oriented government. Will prove to be a milestone in establishing.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Moni Sharma The writer is Editor, News at First India