The Hindu : Widening gulf between Congress, common man

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 15, 2002

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Widening gulf between Congress, common man

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 14. The more the Congress Government in Delhi is nearing the election year the more it is getting distanced from the common man. At least that is the impression one gets after a visit to the Players Building, Delhi Secretariat, which has come under a new security cover. It is not a very happy situation for any elected Government and could evoke adverse reactions in a crucial election year.

Ever since last year's September 11 attack on the United States, the Delhi Government has been extra cautious with the security aspect of Delhi Secretariat. There is no disputing the fact that security should be a top priority of any Government and everything should be done to prevent the entry of undesired elements into such important buildings. But when security goes overboard, it becomes more a tool for harassment and hindrance. This is exactly what is happening in the Delhi Secretariat which is fast becoming out of the reach of the common man.

In fact, a kin of the Industry Minister, Deep Chand Bandhu, was also not spared by these unruly security personnel and he was not allowed to walk into the Delhi Secretariat despite a message from the Minister's office and the person concerned revealing his antecedents. In another case, the Bawana MLA, Surinder Kumar, got engaged in a verbal duel and a virtual fisticuff with the private security personnel after they refused to allow him to proceed into a Minister's room even after he revealed his identity. These instances are fast turning into a daily affair and if remedial measures are not initiated then things could turn ugly.

Sources said the Delhi police had taken over the security of the Delhi Secretariat in the first week of November and an order was issued by the General Administration Department that no government employees without an identity card should be allowed inside the building. So far so good for the babudom. But what happens to the people who come to visit the various Ministers and officials for routine work and other activities. They are faced with humiliation and harassment at the hands of over zealous and rude security men who have no orientation of how to handle the entry or exit of people.

The unruly behaviour is not limited to the entry point at Gate No. 6 but continues even inside the building after the latest circular of the GAD has come into force. Private security personnel, who were supposed to have been phased out with the induction of Delhi police but retained for mysterious reasons, have been stationed at all the three entry points on all the 10 floors of the building.

It is absolutely difficult for the common man to gain entry into the Ministers' offices or meet any official without having a confrontation with these private guards. "The top political leadership and the bureaucracy are unaware of these problems as they have access to the building from the main gate and do not have to undergo the humiliation at the hands of these untrained and virtually illiterate personnel. The Government should act positively and step in to change the situation. An impression should not go around that the Sheila Dikshit Government is distancing itself from the people and even the elected representatives are being treated with contempt,'' remarked a senior Congress leader.

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Widening gulf between Congress, common man