In the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who would not travel in train if not in the third class, the people’s representatives now are a different lot. 

Top railway officials from east central railway were shunted out this week for not providing berths to 13 members of parliament (MP) from Bihar and 5 MPs from Uttar Pradesh in AC first class coach of the Rajdhani Express.

Unable to get berths in the first class coach of Patna Rajdhani to Delhi, 18 MPs from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — headed to attend the winter session — complained to railway minister Dinesh Trivedi of mistreatment. This prompted the minister to punish senior officials and also to apologise to the MPs on Wednesday.

The MPs had refused to travel in Rajdhani AC-II tier, claiming that the travel class didn’t match their status. They created ruckus on the issue, as a result of which, the train was halted for some time and they could not make it to the parliament in time. These MPs were travelling to New Delhi to attend the ongoing winter session of parliament.

Though the MPs are entitled to get confirmed berths in the first class coach, but due to some problem, 12 MPs were provided berths in AC-II tier of the Rajdhani Express. Only six MPs were provided berths in AC-1 tier.

At this, the MPs had alleged that the top officials from the east central railway had deliberately done this to humiliate them.

In a country where more than 60 percent of the population lives below poverty line (if plan panel deputy chief has his way, this figure will come down soon), such impertinent behaviour of people’s representatives must give the voters some idea as to who they sending in representation and why?
 
(Postscript: Recently, a number of MPs had also raised the demand in parliament for their “right” to have red beacon lights fitted on their cars.)