These greetings are an eyesore

Politicians Posters

The City is decked up to celebrate India’s 65th Independence Day. The customary flower show at Lalbagh is drawing huge crowds, educational institutions have lined up an array of programmes for the day and many others are planning to celebrate the mid-week break.

In all this hullabaloo, how can the politicians be left behind? Most politicians and their supporters have got massive cut-outs of themselves erected at vantage points across the City. Faces of popular politicians in varied postures, next to the posters of Mahatma Gandhi with the tricolour as the backdrop, are an aberration.

Metrolife asked a few young people on what they thought about politicians speak through posters and what the BBMP is doing to contain this menace. Youngsters didn’t think twice before calling these posters, erected by politicians, an act of buffoonery. They call it a farce and point out that the politicians don’t miss an opportunity to advertise themselves. 

Nishanth Rao, a software consultant with Capgemini India, observes that Independence Day is being used as an excuse by  politicians to advertise themselves. “There are also the numerous supporters who choose to indulge in such activities and show off their presence. When one drives across the City, one will find numerous hoardings being put up at busy traffic junctions and public places,” says Nishanth. 

He brands these posters as an eyesore. “These posters are a menace as they create hazardous waste. The BBMP turns a blind eye towards them and regulates the rule only for a couple of days and then ignores it. The authorities should come up with a bill to ban buntings and cut-outs,” he adds. 

Atul Kumar Tripathi, an employee with TCS, observes that politicians never miss an opportunity to impress people although that concern doesn’t translate into substantial work to better the lives of citizens. “I think people are too busy to bother about what politicians are doing. They come to the people, seeking votes, only during the elections. People must vote to weed out the corrupt,” he says.  

Deepali Kamath, a student with the Mount Carmel College, says that these posters are erected not just during public occasions. Even the birthdays of these politicians are celebrated with huge life-size posters. “After a few days, these posters are seen scattered on the streets. These don’t serve any purpose and I don’t know why politicians are spending money on such frivolous things,” she feels. “I think they should concentrate on solving the basic civic problems and water and electricity crisis in several parts of the City,” she adds.

The BBMP authorities claim that they are doing their bit to get these posters removed and booking cases against the offenders under the ‘Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act 1981’. K R Niranjan, special commissioner of the BBMP, claims, “A drive is on to get these posters and banners removed and the offender has to pay the fine only in court. However, there is a provision where permission can be granted by the BBMP to erect these posters for a period of seven days from the date of issue, exceeding which these will be removed.”