‘Delhiites break rules because they don’t fear the law’

Gyan Varma. New Delhi
Union home minister P Chidambaram reprimanded Delhiiites on Tuesday, saying they need to learn to behave well, like citizens of a big international city before next year’s Commonwealth Games. His words resonated with people who have spent years in the city and know  and understand its character. Dipankar Gupta, professor of sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University agrees with Chidambaram: “Breaking the law is a fashion statement in Delhi. People don’t follow traffic rules because they know they can break the law and get away with it because of their political connections. In Delhi, 20% of Parliamentarians have criminal cases against them and this goes down the line."

Jumping of redlights and queues, pulling all punches to break law, and names dropping all have not much to do with the culture but a basic lack of fear of law, says Gupta.

“Authorities should take proper tests and educate people on traffic rules and discipline before giving them driving licenses. It is so easy to get licenses and people are ready to pay money to touts who get them made,” said former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who is also a prominent Delhiite. 

Gupta suggests that Lutyens’ Delhi should be demolished in order to improve Delhi’s image “because nowhere in the world is so much space given to politicians. This space should be used to build high-rises which would bring down commuting time”.

Says Shobha Deepak Singh, director of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra and a life-long Delhiite, “People should be patient and better behaved while driving but I think the situation would improve with time.”