This refers to ‘AAP versus VIP’ by Shekhar Gupta (IE, January 4). Our elected representatives generally show no sense of humility and forget that they are the servants of the people. Some former Central ministers such as George Fernandes and former prime minister I.K. Gujral stand out as the exceptions to the rule. They were rarely seen accompanied by a posse of security personnel when they were defence minister and foreign minister respectively. Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, the late Vavilala Gopalakrishnayya, an independent MLA, and the celebrated communist leader P. Sundarayya could be seen walking or cycling to the assembly from their MLA quarters. Doing away with red beacons is the first step to rid the country of VIP culture, which has flourished at great public expense.
M. K. D. Prasada Rao (Ghaziabad)
