Politicians have it difficult differentiating between the property of the Government and their own personal property. For a long time the national carrier Air India has operated on the whims and fancies of politicians who treated it as their family car. In recent times, at least, it was presumed that this ‘VIP culture’ was on the wane. But someone forgot to tell Renuka Chowdhury, former minister and Congress leader.
Recently, it was reported that an Air India flight had been delayed because Chowdhury had disappeared at the time of boarding. Repeated announcements asking her to board went unanswered. When she finally came, the flight had missed its take off slot and ended up 45 minutes late. Newspapers quoting sources said that Chowdhury had been shopping in the arcade when she should have been on the plane. Chowdhury denies the shopping part but not the fact that the flight was delayed because of her.
Her explanation is that she had asked for a cart to take her to the departure gate. Even that sounds like arrogance. Recently, Pakistani passengers had humiliated a politician who delayed a flight. Chowdhury should count herself lucky for not having received similar treatment.
More Columns
Equally Ever After Sharanya Manivannan
Murder in Burdwan Rajiv Bhatia
A Proverbial Guide to the Polls MJ Akbar