President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday inaugurated ‘India’s Air Force One’, christened Rajdoot.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4343550.cms
And before the tape was cut, there were cries from all over the country questioning the need for this unnecessary luxury at this point in time. Read the comments on the Economic Times article if you want this validated. I think the issue is not so much about luxury or with the plane in itself. My view is that it is more to do with the person who is getting it. I mean, think of it this way: if Dr. APJ were still the Prez, and had he inducted the Rajdoot, do you think there’d be all these comments on the article? No one would have thought it as being unreasonable that the Head of a Country is getting an official plane to match his tag as the first citizen. But when this President does the same thing, it is unreasonable. With all due respect, I don’t think she deserves the plane. And if the debate must really go on, the expense for the Air Force in purchasing a Boeing Business Jet is no where near what all our politicians take home in a year.
As an afterthought, here’s what is unreasonable: The President hardly has powers in India. If at all anything must change, it’s not the plane or the motor car that ferries the President. I think a wider scope of responsibilities and power needs to be instituted for the first citizen. That could reduce some of the roles of the Prime Minister. And if the PM needs a new jet, let’s get it for him or her after the results of the first year in office. Perks tied to performance! Makes sense?
4 comments:
But don't you think that if APJ was still the president, he'd have found a better way to utilise the money instead of buying fancy state-of-the-art planes?
Presidents or prime ministers from our country are not really in grave danger to show off high security, high mobility stunts as representatives from the US. See, India doesn't influence other countries like the US. This, sometimes unnecessary, influence has resulted in the US going in for such high level security laid transport options for its leaders.
The only threat for Indian leaders is from Pakisthani militants. They are not very sophisticated and even if they are, their regional issues occupy them completely.
Coming to the point where you compare the current president with APJ - Its not the person, but the position that requires the attention. So, even if in the future there is a necessity for the rajdooth, it should be made available to the representative irrespective of who it is.
idd nala irka..
Dude i don no much abt politics, but wat i say is "APJ is a brilliant guy"
I guess he had come for your convo also, rt?
Oh !! thats why you ve becom his staunch proponent.
@ Sampathkumar:
"your convo"? .. ahem.. excuse me
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