AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, who is soon to be the chief minister of Delhi, turned down the security cover offered to him a third time on Monday.Earlier on December 13, the Magsaysay awardee activist-turned-politician had turned down the Delhi Police's offer of a security cover to the New Delhi MLA.In a polite reply to the Delhi Police Commissioner's offer of an X-category security cover which provides a personal security officer (PSO) at a time to the former IRS official, Kejriwal had written: "Thank you for offering me a PSO. But I don't need any PSO. God is my biggest PSO. Kindly use the services of the PSO you are offering me to provide security to the Aam Aadmi of Delhi."Before this on October 24, when the Ghaziabad Police had contacted Kejriwal on directions from the Home Ministry, the AAP leader is reported to have said that the safety of crores of citizens was at stake and he was no different from them.Compare this with some other CMs or former CM.Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has a security cover comprising 36 National Security Guards' Black Cat commandoes with at least a three-layer security ring. Following serial blasts at Modi's Patna rally on October 27, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) provided Modi, who is one of the most protected VIPs in the country, with the 'Advance Security Liaison' (ASL) facility whereby multi-layer security checks are conducted at his rally sites.In March 2012, after Akhilesh Yadav took the reins of the new Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, he ordered reduction in the size of the 415-men strong security cover given to Bahujan Samaj Party supremo and former UP chief minister Mayawati. She is now under the Z-plus security cover with 36 NSG Black Cats commandoes and 20-odd police guards, which is on a par with all the former UP CMs, including Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rajnath Nath Singh.In an affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court, the Central government admitted its total budget for VIP security for the last financial year (2012-13) was Rs.341 crore.The scourge of VIP culture has spread like wildfire. Following which, demands for a security cover and red beacons have gone up faster than the inflation. On April 4 this year, the Supreme Court sounded a red alert on the widespread misuse of red beacons by the VIPs, observing that the VIP security had become "an offensive symbol of our democracy".While 27 categories of public functionaries are officially permitted to use them (only when they on official duty), the prescribed norms are routinely flouted.In January, the Delhi Police, in an affidavit submitted before an apex court bench, said that the security cover provided to top dignitaries was intended to help them take "bold and impartial" decisions. The affidavit was filed by Mangesh Kashyap, a deputy commissioner of police. The Bench examining the necessity of security cover to dignitaries, politicians and officials, was both amused and exasperated and asked the Delhi Police counsel to explain how a sentry at the gate helped the protected person take "bold and impartial" decisions. "Is this the level of understanding expected from a DCP-level officer who must be from Indian Police Service?" the Bench observed.In May last year, in a parliamentary debate, members from across the political spectrum made a strong demand for being given the right to sport red beacons atop their vehicles. Had it not been for Congress president Sonia Gandhi who nixed the bill, it would have been passed.Let's hear who said what to defend his right to sport red beacons.Arjun Ram Meghwal of BJP said, "Even an additional district magistrate gets a red beacon while an MP representing lakhs of people is deprived of it." He said a red beacon would help an MP reach parliament quickly as it would reduce time spent at toll booths on highways. Vijay Bahadur Singh of BSP said a red beacon would help MPs move quicker across their constituencies.Now, can't we learn from doctors, courier boys and even pizza delivery chaps how to move quickly? They work out this miracle and save people's lives and do their jobs every day.And if learning from commoners is too base for those in Parliament, there is Kejriwal to learn from.