The austerity drive has only brought out one of the most depressing face of Indian politics, which has always been revolving around issues which hardly affect the problems of the common people. Be it the statues, parks or Mhd Ali Jinnah’s secularism –  Indian politicians are most vociferous and enthusiastic. But when it comes to pertinent issues like unemployment, suicide of farmers, electricity etc. we somehow do not find such zeal among the leaders.

Even in this case we find political parties either trying to despise the charade or support it vehemently. Nobody seems to be worried about the plight of the people who are at the receiving end of this whole global meltdown. Those congress party leaders who traveled by executive class are now traveling by the economy class or the first class railway compartments. How austere! If traveling in the economy class was austere enough for the common people, whom the congress is showing solidarity with, Indian aviation industry would not have been in such a bad shape. For most commuters traveling in first class railway facilities or airplane (any class), is a luxury and not austerity. I guess Shashi Tharur’s infamous cattle class comment on the way Indian commuters travel will not seem too wrong to his detractors (whatever way they interpreted it)  if they take out time to just have a look at the way so many common people travel in the general compartments of the trains. Here too, what appalls the leaders more is the comment on the way ordinary people travel, and not their actual plight.

If this whole exercise saved some substantial amount of taxpayer’s money, this would’ve still been understandable. But if you take into consideration the cost incurred in providing extra security to the “VIPs”, you’ll be left wondering-“is it really cheaper for them to travel like common people do?”

I have an idea for the leaders if they really want to save public money-“don’t waste the parliament time in walkouts and protests. Utilize it to discuss the problems of people for whom austerity, unlike the congress party, is a matter of compulsion and not choice. It will save millions of rupees every session.”