With reference to the report, "MPs find odd-even scheme insulting" (April 26), it was interesting to see near unanimity among parliamentarians - a rare occurrence - on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's vehicle rationing initiative. They alleged that it would generate corruption and was intended to insult them, as they sought exemption from it to attend Parliament.
Moreover, Lok Sabha member Rajesh Ranjan quipped sarcastically that Kejriwal had introduced the scheme to gain "cheap publicity". Naresh Agrawal, a Samajwadi Party member of Parliament, went to the extent of asking why the Centre was silent on the issue. While seeking exemption for MPs, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Rajya Sabha member K C Tyagi did praise the odd-even scheme.
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Amid the criticism to the scheme, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in a lighter vein in the Rajya Sabha that the Opposition should first allow Parliament to function. This prompted Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to say, "Even if they have to disrupt, they will have to come here."
In all fairness, the MPs could have made use of the special DTC bus arranged by the Delhi government exclusively for their commute. Perhaps, they could have given some tips to the state government to effectively tackle the menace of alarming pollution levels in the national capital.
One wishes that instead of seeking exemption, the representatives of the people had walked in the shoes of ordinary Delhiites, who too have daily jobs. They should have followed the example of the Delhi Cabinet ministers and Assembly members who are following the scheme. But then, some people happen to be more equal than others in India.
Kumar Gupt, Panchkula
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