This is an earnest appeal to Ms Sonia Gandhi"ji". Please let her know this thru your news paper.
Madam,
I do not know the motive behind your half day visit to Bangalore. I do not intend to know either like most other Bangaloreans
who are happy getting along with their lives as normal as they can. But yesterday and today, thousands of Bangaloreans, had to suffer immensely because of your visit. You may have not noticed when you zoom past nicely laid roads from Raj Bhavan to Airport that beyond 100 meters on either side on all intersections, half an hour of traffic was stopped. You may not have noticed those anxious eyes of little kids whose school bus was no where to be seen or being re-routed without their knowledge. You may also have not noticed many construction workers, daily wages employees, who were not even allowed to cross the street that you were to pass by. Sadly but true, there was an Ambulance from Garden City Hospital that was struck on the Airport Road in the aftermath of your visit. Bangaloreans however sympathetic they are could not pave way for this patient because of half an hour of jam makes it physically impossible. More over, this road is the vein of two huge Hospitals of Bangalore. Ambulances are bound to come by which are effect by your visit. I can only pray for the well being of that patient hoping that he made it to the hospital in time.
Madam, Bangalore is a technologically advanced city, though its roads need enough improvement. Your visit to Bangalore is NOT required. You can conduct business, meet people, conduct rallies using a video phone or any other such gizmo that Krishna will readily make provisions for. Please do NOT visit Bangalore until it is ready for such an elaborate cort�ge.
This culture of VIP appeasement is growing Bangalore and we do not like it. And all the political parties are competing against each other to see who does best. Obviously, the party in power, used all the government machinery under its control (spending precious tax payers money) to make it near perfect for you. We, Bangaloreans do not believe in petty politics and hence carry on with our business after every such intervention. However, if it effects our daily order of business, we will act and act decisively in the forth coming elections.
As a final note, I want to assure you, Ms Gandhi"ji" that every time you visit Bangalore, you popularity drops a notch for reasons I have explained earlier. It is in best interests of you, your party and Bangalore that you refrain from visiting Bangalore. Use the technology that Bangalore has to offer to carry on with business, as Bangaloreans have always done.
Prashanth Kota
Posted on : 2, September 2003
Posted to : India Express and Times Of India
Outcome : Letter Printed in TOI (3-SEP-03), But VIP appeasement continues at the expense of tax payers money and patience.