High-handedness of our VVIPs

The recent incident of offloading Rajya Sabha MP Abdul Wahab by an Air India pilot citing unnecessary delay in the boarding of MP has set uproar as the MP has threatened to file a privilege motion against the pilot. Many other Parliamentarians’ supports to the MP’s cause and their unanimous demand to take action against the pilot has further worsened the situation, as in contrast, the pilot association too, has come out in support of their co-worker.

Reportedly, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP was about to board with an Indian Airlines flight bound to Kochi from Kozhikhode but arrived almost 15 min late. As the flight was already delayed due to some other reason which has infuriated the pilot, Captain Rajat Rana, who later asked the MP to deplane. After some argument the MP had opted to take another plane.

Mr Wahab after arriving in Dubai with his family quoted as saying, “If this is the kind of treatment that a Parliament member has to face then what would be the experience of the common man.”

"I was well in time when I took the boarding pass. The flight had not even landed. It was delayed coming from Bahrain," he further added.

In contrast, the pilot’s version tells a completely different story. According to the pilot, he asked the MP to disembark from the aircraft after the MP entered the cockpit area- a totally restricted zone- and abused him.

Well! Whatever be the truth, but this incident surely has alluded to another incident of high-handedness by VVIPs who with their influence don’t bother to respect general public concern. However in this particular incident it would be early to generalise at this stage, but superficially to a common man the incident looks for the best interest of the passengers.

Our elected leaders or bureaucrats, the so-called VVIPs should no way forget that all are equal before law in a democratic system and no one is entitled to getaway after giving a shit. Such incidents only show the fragileness of our political order.

As far as the particular case is concerned, it demands an independent inquiry to be set up to find the truth. Ministry of Aviation, too, take such incident into serious consideration and let the offender, whoever it is whether the pilot or the minister, to the hands of law without making a mockery of the system.