Rajasthan:
Policemen in khaki will now have to guard elected leaders in Rajasthan.
In a bizarre move, on its second anniversary, the Ashok Gehlot govt is worried about possible attacks on the politicians by the very people who elect them and has decided to provide each of the 200 MLAs and 35 MPs in state with security guards that will cost the state over Rs 6 crore annually.
Politicians often have rivals who create hassles, so security is much needed. They also face people's anger as their representatives and if they don't have security they can land into big trouble," said Shanti Dhariwaal, the Home Minister of Rajasthan.
So, police guards will now be another status symbol for the politicians while the common man will continue to suffer.
In Rajasthan, 7000 posts are lying vacant in the police department and there is a dearth of security for people as the crime rate in the state is shooting up. In such a scenario if someone needs security then it is definitely not the politicians.
What will one security guard be able to do if people really turn against a politician? Also, this is not a great move when we have a shortage of policemen, when the Beat Constable system is in tatters and police stations don't have enough constables?" Amitabh Gupta the former Director General of Police in Rajasthan said.
Recently, the MPs and MLAs got a hike in their salaries. Now, free security comes their way which will cost the ex-chequer close to Rs 50 lakh a month. Do the politicians still have more to ask? What about their performance? Asks the
aam aadmi.