Press Trust of India / New Delhi Sep 22, 2009, 11:26 IST
Delhiites should seize the opportunity provided by the 2010 Commonwealth Games and mend their ways to present the capital as an international city, Home Minister P Chidambaram today said.
"We should seize the opportunity of the Commonwealth Games to change our behavioural pattern. We must behave as (residents of) an international city," he said after inaugurating a police station.
Observing that people in the city often do not obey traffic rules, he said the national capital needs to change its mindset.
"We have noticed over many years that the behaviour of people has not changed. Vehicles are jumping red lights, even police vehicles are jumping red lights. Some are moving (in their vehicles) without having registration plates, some are crossing roads where they should not. People are not using overground or underground passes. We want to encourage people to change their mindset," he said.
The Home Minister's comments came after Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said at the function that her government was starting a campaign to change the way the society behaves so that it becomes more caring and also sharing.
Germany and Beijing also underwent a similar 'social-etiquette drive' before hosting major sporting events.
It is time Delhiites listen to Home Minister P. Chidambram's advice and mend their ways and change their mindset, so as to present a civilized and modern society. No doubt old habits die hard, yet Delhiites should develope sense of responsibity, pride and discipline to project an image of a neat, clean and tidy city, Delhi comparable with any other modern and civilized city in the world.