Just what the memsahib ordered

Vidushi Dubey / TNN / Nov 24, 2005, 01:51 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Inspite of the orders from SP Traffic, the TOI team found over a dozen vehicles flouting traffic norms.

LUCKNOW: SP Traffic Omkar Singh while talking to TOI on Wednesday said. "There are clear cut orders from my side to tow away any vehicle found parked in the no parking zone.
And, I would myself see to it that the orders are strictly followed." But in spite of these brave words, the TOI team found over a dozen vehicles with beacon lights flouting traffic norms on Wednesday.
A red beacon mounted vehicle (UP 32 BG 0206) came and stopped in front of the Halwasiya market in the no parking zone on Wednesday afternoon.
Team TOI did not react for some time - hoping that the errant driver might mend his ways. But the wait proved futile, for the car remained in the no parking zone.

Team TOI then decided to ask the driver whose car it was. At which, he proudly replied, "It belongs to revenue minister Ambika Chaudhary and memsahib has come here for some shopping.
She has gone inside the market now. If you want to meet her, you can wait here." It was only when the TOI team started taking photos of the wrongly parked vehicle, did he get a little flustered and asked what the matter was.
On being told that he had parked his vehicle in the no parking zone �� he gave the team a hard look and went and sat in the car. "Do what you want, because you don't know who he is," he said over his shoulders.

Though the team kept a close watch on the car, its occupants did not return for over an hour. While TOI team was monitoring the 'movement' of Chaudhary's car, came in another car (UP 32 AU 2460), which too went and stopped in the no parking zone.
The photographer wasted no time in taking the wrongly-parked car's photograph. Immediately, the driver of this car demanded to know what was wrong.
Even as he was asking this, another car (UP 32 AE 5070), stopped in the no parking zone. This driver too looked a little flustered seeing his vehicle being clicked.
When the TOI Team asked them whose car it was, the first driver said it belonged to state election officer AP Singh, while the second driver said his car belonged to Inspector General of Police GN Singh.
However, they both seemed apologetic when told that they had parked the car in the no parking zone. "Madam kya kar rahin hain? Hamari naukri khatre mein kyon dal rahi hain? Hum hata lete hai (What are you doing?
Why are you putting our jobs at risk? We will move our vehicle)," they said in unison, only to add that they were only following orders.
And while Team TOI was packing its bags, came in another car (UP 32 AV 4056) in the no parking zone. On asking the driver, we came to know that it belonged to some secretary.
When he was told that he was in the no parking zone, his reply amused us to no end for he said, his 'madam' had asked him to park the car in front of whichever shop she entered.
He said he wouldn't move his car come what may for he feared losing his job. Car number UP 32 AT 4547 was also found in the no parking zone. It belonged to member, Human rights commission, SPM Tripathi.

End of Article