JOIN USMohammed Haris, son of Congress MLA from Shantinagar NA Haris, proved that he is a true member of the spoilt VIP sons' tribe when he brutally attacked a young man at a restaurant in Bengaluru on Sunday. VIP scions make a class by themselves, and they have a sense of power and entitlement that makes them violate the laws, ill-treat people, vandalise things, beat up or even kill people. The misconduct and the violence are usually for no reason or for an imaginary or minor provocation. Haris Jr. also had no reason to attack the young man, other than that he did not like the way the victim, 24-year-old L Vidwath, looked at him – the "how dare he keep his leg on a chair and stare at me, even if the leg is fractured and in plaster" attitude. Haris Jr. and his thugs did not just assault Vidwath so badly as to almost kill him – he is in the ICU in a city hospital, with a broken nose and cheek bone and five broken ribs, unable to breathe properly -- they even chased him to the hospital and threatened him. A normal human being would not have behaved in such a way with an already injured man. But Mohammed Haris is no normal human being, he is the son of an MLA.
These are goons and criminals who claim power and privilege and pose a threat to society. Because they have money and power, they collect riff raff around them who do their bidding and act as musclemen. They move around in expensive vehicles and fancy themselves kings of the road, giving no-one the way and brooking no law; they visit high-end bars and restaurants and pick up fights. Some years ago, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's son fought with the staff of a hotel who did not provide him and his friends food at 4 o' clock in the morning. The progeny of leaders of all parties are well represented in this rogues' gallery. The line of infamy perhaps started with Sanjay Gandhi, and Mohammed Haris will not be the last in that lineage.
The father's apology does not redeem the situation. He said that the law will be the same for his son as for others. History shows otherwise. The arrogance and sense of impunity of VIPs and their kin have prevailed over the rule of law. It should not go unnoticed that the self-assured smile that Mohammed Haris had on his face when he surrendered to the police mocked at the law and the men in uniform. He is sure he can get away with his murderous conduct. The onus of ensuring that he doesn't, lies with the Siddaramaiah government and the police. Their true colours will become apparent in this case.