04 October,2010 09:14 AM IST | | Amit Kumar
CWG plays great leveller, no special treatment to anybody
It was a day in the life of the national capital when there were no VIPs, courtesy the Commonwealth Games, which were declared open on Sunday.u00a0
On the same page: Many VIPs and even journalists were taken aback by
the conduct of security personnel. Pic/Rajeev Tyagi
All bigwigs including politicians, who are famous for their powerful SUVs and luxury sedans, got a taste of the life of a common man. As all roads leading to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue for the opening ceremony of the Games, were closed for private vehicles, spectators had no choice but to use public transport and walk up to the venue.
VIPs including members of Delhi Legislative Assembly, former ministers, senior bureaucrats were all seen standing among the crowd to get a ride on the Metro.u00a0
Former Delhi BJP chief Dr Harshvardhan and former BJP legislator Vijay Jolly were seen waiting at the JLN stadium metro station while returning from the venue.
"Overall, I enjoyed the Metro and bus ride. While coming to the venue, we first reached Delhi secretariat to catch the Metro for JLN stadium. Though I had to walk some distance and clear every security check points but the show proved worth the efforts. However, it is a bit difficult on my return journey as I have to change at three stations to reach Preet Vihar from where I have to catch a DTC bus to reach home," Dr Harshvardhan told MiD DAY.
Politicians like Harshvardhan usually travel in white Ambassador cars with beacons. Although no one accepted it on record that they had a troublesome experience but they were seemingly harrassed and sweating.
"These leaders are habitual of giving orders but now they must experience what problems a common man faces every day. The leaders had no options but to follow the orders of the men in Khaki," said Ravi Kapoor, a businessman, one of the spectators.
Jolly also had to jostle his way through the Metro crowd to reach and return from the stadium. "Some better management could have been possible but I don't mind as all we did for pride of the Nation," said Jolly, who travelled in Metro from Lajpat Nagar to JLN Stadium.
Even these politicians were made to dump their medicines and coins on the entry gates.Even Members of Parliament also shared a bus to reach the venue from Parliament house.
"It was nice to see no Ambassador cars with red beacons on the roads of Delhi otherwise in any such events these VIPs always trouble the common man," said Narender Singh, a government official.
| N Facilities |
| There was no chilled water for the VIPs. Even the washrooms were not cleaned and there were no soaps in the washrooms. |
