Click to play videoChandigarh: Punjab and Haryana politicians who flaunt the scores of policemen securing their cavalcades will soon lose soon their sheen.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that pilots and escorts provided to VIPs be withdrawn immediately. Only the heads of judiciary, executive and the legislature will be allowed pilot cars and escorts.
“Pilots and escorts provided to VIPs are a traffic hazard and create problems for the public. Such vehicles overtake without considering the speed limit and other traffic regulations. It is more of a status symbol than security,” says Rajeev Atma Ram, the lawyer who filed a petition against the VIPs misusing their official cars.
The High Court has also directed the Punjab government to re-assess threat perception of VIPs and change their security accordingly. Punjab has one of the highest numbers of VIPs: 2,197 people have security with as many as 8,261security personnel guarding them. A senior Punjab minister welcomed the court order saying it will save money.
“I have fought four elections and trust me, a sure shot way of being unpopular with people is to have security cover. People don't like it. If I can go without security, 99.9 per cent people given security can go without security,” says state Finance Minister Manpreet Badal.
Following the High Court's directive, the Chandigarh administration is falling in line. Haryana has sought a month's time for implementation while Punjab reported several instances of violation on day one. Given the public's outrage against politicians following the Mumbai terror attack, no politician has spoken out in favour of security for VIPs
The governments of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh have taken VIP pilot and escort vehicles off the roads. However, the governments still have three months to submit a list of people needing protection.
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