Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and minister for small and medium enterprises, Yogendra Behera embarrassed the party on Monday after making one of his personal security officer (PSO) to tie and later untie his sandal straps. At a programme to unfurl the national flag on the occasion of India’s 70the Independence Day in Keonjha district, the minister also tried to justified his action, saying, “I am the VIP. I have hoisted the flag; he (PSO) has (done that),” The Indian Express reported. Later Behera treid to give an explanation, saying he had knee problem and “he (PSO) was helping me out.” A video, which has become viral, shows the PSO loosening and tightening the sandal straps of Behera in presence of thousands of people.
The incident has attaracted sharp criticism from several quarters, including the BJD. The Indian Express reported Odisha BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma as saying that it was a “shameful incident” and that there was no distinction between government staff and the personal staff. However, some “ministers think…Odisha is their fiefdom”.
Several people also took to Twitter to comment on the “shameful” incident. Here are some of the tweet
Odisha Minister Yogendra Behera makes PSO tie his sandal straps, says he’s VIP. An asshole w/ undue sense of entitlement is very dangerous.
— Debarati Majumder (@debarati_m) August 16, 2016
@naveenpatnaikod Sad to note the attitude & audacity of Yogendra Behera.
— Pratap (@Pratapog) August 16, 2016
Open sandal straps, I’m the VIP’
Yogendra Behera, on Monday asked a personal security officer (PSO) to tie, and later untie,— Pгatєєk ᗷhatia™ (@ThePrateekb) August 16, 2016
Yogendra Behera Odissa mantra in the news. Aise mantrio ko bees padne chahiye aur Aise suraksha karamchari .ko pachaas.
— JAGDEEP MARWAH (@JagdeepMarwah) August 16, 2016
The VIP culture continues to thrive in India as some people can’t even do some basic personal tasks like tying sandal straps. One hopes other leaders of the country will take a lesson from the incident.