What may be called the mockery of Democracy or the Wastage of Public Money, the latest Protocol of Air India announced few days back demands Royal Treatment  for all Member of Parliaments (MPs)  whenever they travel  on an  Air India Flight.
Air India is already running in heavy losses. It has lost over Rs 500 Crores in past 30 days. Its employees are not paid salary for 3 months. External money is pumped to keep it running. In such situation  this Maharaja styles treatment would further add to the Losses and DownFall of Air India.
Here are few highlights of the latest High Quality Handling Protocol.
1. MPs would be provided ‘‘step-wise facilitation’’, right from generation of PNR numbers to departure from airport to take-off to landing to airport exit.
2. Airport managers and officials must be in attendance, either in person or by deputing another official to meet an MP along with helpers and help them with formalities until they board the aircraft.
3. As the MP is  on board, the cabin crew will have to identify themselves to the MP and offer him ‘‘compliments’’.
4. At  the end of the flight, the commander of the aircraft will be required to file a report on the handling of the MP!
5. Immediately after the flight carrying an MP departs, the station manager should inform his counterpart, through ‘‘email, telex and telephone call’’, of the MP’s seat number, baggage location, onward flight details and any other ‘‘special requirement at transit or destination’’. The station manager will be required to ‘‘monitor’’, ‘‘liase’’ and ‘‘ensure’’ that the flight operates on schedule after the MP has boarded it.
But the question is in the India of 2012, why should 800 MPs be treated as Maharajas by the national carrier?
What is happening is that our MPs have made it clear that they do not want to fly in the same manner as their very own people, who have elected them, do — thus making it clear that they do not believe in the very essence of democracy.
Remember, it is not that our MPs have not demanded the above protocol. The fact of the matter is that the protocol was devised in November last year after the MPs approached the House Committee of the Lok Sabha for special treatment at airports and while on board. In other words, it is the MPs themselves who have desired to fly like emperors of the medieval era and who have wanted the people of the country to see them as emperors! Do you still call it democracy?
It is not surprising that  they are always against people like Team Anna members and Swami Ramdev, who slam corruption and black money. Forget this they donot even acknowledge the fact that they are Public Servants. Contrarily, they intend to be the Master of Public.
Remember the famous Quote of Winston Churchill  in which he said  that if India is granted Independence, “Power will go to rascals, rogues, freebooters. All leaders will be of low caliber & men of straw.They’ll have sweet tongues & silly hearts.A day would come when even air & water will be taxed”
Should we believe that the 64 years ago, the man was correct.