Nitish Kumar gets taste of ‘VIP culture’ angst at IGIA

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could not have anticipated the alacrity with which Indians took to PM Narendra Modi’s call last Wednesday to end the so-called ‘VIP culture’ when he decided to abolish red beacon lights atop all official cars.

An incident last week at Terminal 3 Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi showed him just how much. A passenger surprised Kumar and his security detail when he hopped on to a battery-operated golf cart aka buggy that Kumar was riding in, simply saying “No VIP culture!” and taking up the vacant seat next to the CM.

According to senior Central Industrial Security Force officers, the CM’s security and staff members were present when the incident took place. Everyone was, however, taken aback when the man suddenly hopped on the battery-operated vehicle.

“There was appropriate security and security was not any concern. The man did not possess any threat and just casually walked up to the vehicle…. our guards were alert and he was allowed to share the ride. He was heard sayig, ‘No VIP culture’, while taking the seat,” said a senior CISF officer.