‘The Tribune-Chatterati” 15th.March.2010

Mostly all well-off families of India invite Ministers to opulent weddings to show their influence. Mixing politicians and bureaucrats is the big thing. But a Chief Minister is the icing on the cake. However, the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, made it amply evident recently that he was not amused by all this.
This is the first Chief Minister who while addressing a gathering of Gandhians in Jaipur said how upset and ashamed he feels when people come to his house with wedding cards which costs Rs 2000 each. They also spend Rs 1000 per plate in the feast when we have no money to help poor”. After all it was Gehlot who he allowed only 11 baraatis in his own wedding and also held a simple marriage function for his daughter. He added that if he attended such weddings he would also become as shameless as those who conduct them. We can be pretty sure that nobody will be sending him wedding invites for a while. And I do hope all other Politicians are paying heed and follow suit. It is always the leaders who can set examples. And Gehlot has always led a simple life and yet performed well and delivers too.