Callous politicos, unsafe city

The total lack of control the executive exhibits over life in the country is mind-boggling. Illustrative of the absence of concern for what happens to common people is the case of a young techie going about her everyday life on a scooter on a Chennai road. She was forced to lose balance by a political hoarding announcing a wedding in the family of a ruling party member flying off its porch on the median. As she fell on the road, a water tanker ran over her. The politician, who put up the banner as the ultimate symbol of sycophancy that rules India, is being protected by the police who are attempting a cover-up by booking him under a non-bailable offence while he has conveniently checked himself into a hospital. The lorry driver, a migrant, has been booked.

Over the years, several strictures have been passed by the high court on political parties that encourage this curious culture of cut-outs, banners, flex boards and festoons to celebrate events and Tamil Nadu is a state that goes to extremes to deify its leaders. Such events are innumerable in a country famous for celebrating birth and death anniversaries, weddings, party and corporate events and religious festivals. Safety takes a back seat as huge shortcuts are taken with regard to municipal rules and regulations for putting up giant temporary structures.

Laws exist prohibiting the display of banners, but they are followed in the breach while court orders pass by politicians like idle wind. Will we ever learn from mishaps that have killed at least three people in Tamil Nadu in the last few years? Also, lives are routinely lost to drowning during visarjan in the Ganesha festival when Vinayaka idols are immersed in the water. Human life may be valued less in a populous India, but do we have to toss them away like this, with the official patronage of political parties?