Delhiites should learn to behave like citizens of a “big, good international city” before next year’s Commonwealth Games, Union home minister P Chidambaram said on Tuesday. And if need be, they should be taught good manners, he said.
“We cannot expect mega city policing [to] function properly if people do not change their behaviour. We still find vehicles jumping red lights, and police vehicles… too jump red lights,” Chidambaram said at a function to inaugurate 22 police stations.
“There are vehicles running without registration plates. Some [people] are crossing roads where they should not… [they] are not using overground or underground passes. We want to encourage people to change their mindset,” Chidambaram said.
He pointed out that Germany initiated a three-year programme to change the behaviour of its citizens before it hosted the football World Cup, while China conducted teaching programmes before the Beijing Olympics.
His lament comes in the backdrop of an increasing chorus against the rowdy behaviour of Delhi residents. At a recent meeting of heads of missions on security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games, Mauritius high commissioner M Choonee said, “Delhi drivers are very bad. They do not drive in lanes. Please ask them to drive in lanes.”
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said her government was starting a campaign to change the way people behave.
Comments