Misusing a political ‘platform’

Rjahmundry, Dec. 12: Passengers waiting to board the Gautami Express at Tadepalligudem railway station the other day were shocked to see a car being driven on to the platform. Within it was the Andhra Pradesh PCC president, Mr D. Srinivas, who had concluded his whirlwind tour of Godavari districts, and was going back to Hyderabad.

The PCC chief’s schedule had apparently gone awry because the flight from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry was delayed by more than three hours. He had to rush across the East and West Godavari districts meeting party activists and attending many programmes. After winding up his programme at Bhimavaram he sped to the Tadepalligudem railway station. Party leaders said that the car had to be driven onto the platform as the PCC chief could not climb the steps because of health problems. The car was being driven by the minister for minor irrigation, Mr Maganti Venkateswara Rao.

It first entered platform No. 1 and then reached platform No. 3 by crossing the railway track in between. The PCC chief waited for more than half-an-hour in the car until the Gautami Express arrived at about 10.40 pm.

The car was parked on the platform for a long time and many Congress leaders and activists also waited nearby to see him off. Finally, the Gautami express arrived and PCC chief boarded the train and went away. Enquiries revealed that Mr Srinivas did not take prior permission from the railway authorities to drive his car onto the platform.

Railway authorities were also shocked to see the car enter the platform but they could not muster courage to force him out as he is a VVIP. "Nobody is allowed to drive a vehicle on to the platform," said a railway official. "Those who are ill can be provided with wheelchairs and stretchers."

But the PCC chief did not avail any of the facilities which were available at the railway station. Earlier, the minister for excise, Mr Jakkampudi Ramamohana Rao, had created controversy by delaying a train by a few minutes so that he could board it. Mr Srinivas’ action has evoked wide criticism since he is the president of the state unit of the ruling party and should ideally serve as a role model by showing more respect for rules