The news of SI Vetrivel (ß click on the link to view the TV report) on a road in TN while two ministers, an entire convoy of cops and a host of other onlookers watched shocked and disgusted (almost) everyone who watched: Indian or otherwise. I say almost, because the TN Government led by octogenarian M Karunanidhi and the Central Government led by Dr Manmohan Singh and his (un)able Home Minister P Chidambaram have not even bothered to express their condolence! It must therefore be assumed that that they are no sufficiently moved to disgust to speak up.
To top it all the HEALTH Minister, who was one of the two ministers in the convoy that watched water being poured on the dying cops head as if he were “anyway” dying so perform the last rites while he can see it all, have said they were frozen stiff with fear that they too would be attacked! Then why did they stop to gawk?
No, no one bought their culpability, except Karunanidhi (CM, TN) and Manmohan Singh (PM, India) and their ilk.
But I ask what was really shocking? your view of it all. Take a and see what others think:
1. The Ministers wouldn’t soil their cars to take Vetrivel to a hospital?
2. The Cops in the convoy wouldn’t whisk Vetrivel to a hospital?
3. The onlookers wouldn’t help?
4. “These things happen” ala Chautala (ex-CM, Haryana)?
5. The cop deserved it, since cops are the criminal class now?
6. The TV Cameraman should have moved Vetrivel instead of filming him?
7. This is the real state of affairs in India, but you won’t catch me saying it!
Never mind that there can be umpteen more choices in this multiple choice poll. The shock we feel isn’t because it’s any of the above.
It’s because we have come to know that if we (you or me) had been in that same situation, we’d also probably have driven on, fearing for ourselves. That’s why it’s shocking to see one’s own (possible) behavior on TV, played again and again for TRPs. Or fear of loss of TRPs if not played.
I know this is totally politically incorrect! Maybe even offending to people as we are masters of hypocrisy in India. But ask yourself, the last time you saw an accident on the roads, did you stop and take the hurt to a hospital? Or when a robbery was taking place before your eyes, you ran the other way? Be honest, atleast to yourself.
Take the and have your say. There is an “other” option for you to express your view.
However, I’d dare say we’ll see but a click or two on the poll itself, as its “dangerous” to express one’s views in public; isn’t it?
You want to change things? Be the change you want to see. – M K Gandhi.