BLUNT BUTCHER
Republic Day ‘At Home’ was quite different this year compared to previous years. Not only because of the weather which forced the Raj Bhavan shift the venue to Convention Centre at Canal Road but also due to mismanagement, at least, as far as invite list was concerned.
Eye-witness account painted a grim spectacle of the scene at Convention Centre with non-entitities, political naives etc rubbing shoulders with who’s who of the state politics, bureaucracy and various walks of life. If reports are to be believed, the invitations were on sale. The word ‘sale’ may appear to be crude for such a solemn function, which marks the auspicious day of great Republic of India. Department of Information and Public Relations is reported to be behind the mess that witnessed prominent personalities of the media, as also accredited correspondents, left out while non-entities donned the scene. This has happened for the first time in the past nearly six and half decades, which speaks of the lack of political direction and sense of accountability.
The media fraternity in particular felt let down for being neglected on such an important event that witnessed the sensitive State’s first woman Chief Minister as the Guest of Honour at the Governor’s exclusive function.
The disenchantment was reported from various other segments of the society as well. Believe those attending the ‘At Home’, it lacked the luster attached with such a function that marks the culmination of the Republic Day celebrations on this auspicious day.
As if the favouritism was not enough, the ‘At Home’ was marred by heavy downpour, which saw the organisers on toes to have it successfully accomplished and the traffic managers to regulate vehicular movement on the congested Canal Road. The pedestarians and other commuters, who were made to suffer due to so-called ‘VIP influx’ in the area kept ruing due to halting of life in this part of the city.