I felt relieved after reading the news that “The Bihar government has withdrawn the security cover extended to Railway Minister and RJD President Lalu Prasad as the state's former chief minister” because I was assured that our “great” leader will now at least stay indoor and thereby spare the nation from witnessing his another “tamassha” similar to the one we all watched some 5-6 months back on TV channels when he forced his pilot to land the helicopter on the highway during aerial survey of flood affected Bihar.

This piece of news forced me to assume that Lalu ji would definitely call for a press conference to castigate the anti-poor and anti-Bihar alliance Government of JD (U) and BJP for their vindictive act. I was sure he would relate the withdrawal of nearly 35 personnel drawn from the Special Branch, Bihar Military Police and Patna district police and six vehicles, including a bullet-proof car as a proof of “saazish” against him.

I visualize this incident along with the recent Judiciary’s pronouncement that politicians are not an asset of the nation as a serious setback for a leader of Lalu’s stature. However, on coming to know that Lalu ji will be least affected as he will continue to enjoy  Z-plus category security that includes NSG commandos and personnel of the CRP due to threat perception to him from Naxalites and Ranvir Sena I was disappointed.

The issue discussed above is not an isolated incident. There are hundreds of politicians in India who enjoy and openly misuse State largesse in the name of public service. It is high time people of India wake up to this reality and force these leaders to forego such extravaganza in the name of national service. If these people feel so insecure then they can very well stay at home because they will not be missed by anyone. In case these men and women heed to this piece of advice then such an “act” will be seen as a real service to the nation.

The malaise of such pervasive actions on part of our political class also sets a bad example in the minds of the people, especially young people.They view this deprivation of public money by politician as an example for creating opportunity for themselves in the near future. Instead of working hard to achieve their dream they take the easy way out – indulge in politics and as a “practising” politician do the same thing what they condemned at some point of time in life. Some even go to the extent of managing fake attacks on themselves to stake claim to X, Y, Z and Z- plus security for self and their family members at the public expense. The lure of gun toting security personnel and white Ambassadors with revolving red light is enough to make them stoop to any level in their personal and political life.

It is high time people demand an audit on the expenses incurred for providing security to our self serving political class by the past and present Governments to establish how and where taxes paid on their hard earned income was frittered away. Unless this loot and misuse of public money is immediately controlled and eventually stopped no Government or politician worthy of his/her salt can claim to be working in the interest of people and the nation.