Cattle or business class, politicians have no class

Nikita Khrushchev once remarked, “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers.” Himself being a tenacious politician who led the erstwhile Soviet Union during part of the sweaty Cold War and tried to bury the horrific memories of the Stalin’s Great Purge, he knew what the remark meant.

Actually, politicians have no class irrespective of travelling in the economy or the business class. The latest "crime" — though not intended — of the Muffler Man, who seems to have become a juggernaut hell-bent on making his opponents sweat, was committed in the business class while travelling to Dubai to receive the award for Asia’s most inspiring and young social change maker at the World Brands Summit. Wham! How dare the aam aadmi become a khaas aadmi after sticking to his Wagon R and opting for a flat as his official accommodation when he was in the Delhi hot seat? How could Arvind Kejrwial enjoy the comfort of business class when our defence minister Manohar Parrikar travelled economy class to Goa?

Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart Rajiv Pratap Rudy seems to be perspiring the most. The former civil aviation minister was quick to launch a blitz on Kejriwal trying to riddle his trademark muffler with his comments that were faster and more lethal than the rotating M61 Vulcan. Delhi must know that Kejriwal travels in the business class… he is exposed… Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is bereft of agendas … blah blah blah. Rudy rammed into the diminutive and bespectacled aam aadmi. Kejriwal’s party sprang to his defence saying the ticket for his entire tour — New York besides Dubai — has been arranged by his IIT batchmates and organisers.

The second sortie was by the Congress. Party spokesperson Shobha Oza said Kejriwal’s real face has been exposed. “AAP is completely exposed and the real face of the party has been revealed. AAP does not do what it says and does what it does not say. On one hand, they talk about the common man and on the other, their chief travels in the business class to collect donation.”

As Delhi braces for another election, politicians still have the audacity to bullshit the common man? Does the aam aadmi care whether Kejriwal stays in his official accommodation or some ordinary flat, or commutes to his office in his Wagon R? We perspired more when we saw that Muffler Man’s government deserted us in less than 50 days despite announcing free water supply and 50 per cent drastic cut in power tariff. Had you stayed in a posh bungalow and commuted to your office in an executive sedan, the common man would not have bothered provided you delivered Mr Kejriwal. Instead, you deserted the trench because of the Congress-BJP onslaught on the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Parrikar junked his Embraer executive jet and instead used the economy class of a no-frills carrier to travel to Goa. No one cares! Mr Parrikar, you will be more under the glare of the armed forces and the public for your stance when Pakistani troopers behead an Indian soldier next time or when another Choppergate crashes into the government.

Politcians have mastered the art of digression. After romping home in the Lok Sabha elections and the recent Assembly polls, the BJP is brimming with confidence. Rudy could have taken Kejriwal on the governance turf; instead, he chose to spar with him over cattle class versus business class to digress from the issue of governance and better administration. The aam aadmi could not even experience what the government under Kejriwal could have been — 49 days were too less. With power at the Centre, undoubtedly the BJP would be in a better position to govern Delhi if voted to power. Then what is the logic behind harping on economy or business class? Hopefully, the Delhi electorate will not be lost in another AAP or BJP red herring and be logical.