VIP culture is very strong in India. The movement of high-profile politicians and celebrities without an army of policemen is rare. And the policemen do whatever they need to do to make way for the VIP. In this case, the cabinet minister of Maharashtra Jitendra Awhad was travelling. See what the cop did to a motorist on the road.
Video : आव्हाडांची गाडी वाहतूककोंडीत अडकली, पोलिसानं समोरच्या जीपवाल्याला थप्पडच लगावली!#kolhapur #JitendraAwhad pic.twitter.com/hy3zH4HWe0
— Lokmat (@lokmat) May 30, 2022
The video is from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The minister was heading to Bhausingji Road. This area is infamous for traffic jams. The motor cavalcade of the minister was stuck as well. A video shows that to move the traffic from the way of the minister, traffic police personnel runs ahead to direct the vehicles and create space for the minister’s vehicle.
He also directs a Mahindra Bolero driver to make way for the convoy. However, due to the limited space available, the Bolero driver could not move out quickly. This caused the convoy of Jitendra Awhad to get stuck in the traffic. Failing to move the Bolero quickly out of the way, the police personnel slaps the driver on video.
The video has become viral on the internet drawing a lot of flak on the social media platforms.
VIP culture is still strong in India
Even though the government of India has banned any kind of strobe lights and sirens on all vehicles except for the emergency vehicles, there are still many who misuse them. Many politicians use convoys that affect the life of the general public. In the past, we have seen such motorcades holding up emergency vehicles like ambulances in the past.
The dense, unorganised Indian traffic seldom gives way to the emergency vehicles like ambulances. There have been numerous incidents reported where ambulances have been delayed by the traffic and even ministers. An amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act which penalises any vehicle stopping emergency vehicles, especially ambulances.
The emergency vehicles in Delhi have been asked to install dash cams and loudspeakers to announce their presence and record the culprits. Any vehicle not giving way to an ambulance can be fined up to Rs. 10,000.
A few years ago, an ambulance got stuck in traffic when police barricaded the roads for the Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara in Bangalore. In April, an ambulance carrying a bleeding child was stopped in central Delhi for VIP movement.
What do you think of such a VIP culture? How do you think the government can end such behaviour and move the VIPs without affecting the general public on the roads?
Keyword: Cop slaps Mahindra Bolero owner for not getting out of minister's way fast enough