Sunday was the World Environment Day and politicians up and down the country in India did their bit to give a message to save the environment around us.
Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma too was no different when he decided to leave home on a cycle instead of his car.
But, he chose to have a read beacon (lal batti)-a VIP symbol in India- attached to his bike when he left his house. And if that was not enough, the VVIP politician also found it difficult to ride his bike on a dusty road.
To make sure that Sharma did not have to negotiate the dust just like aam aadmi would do in their daily life, a green carpet was laid on the way for him.
The act, which is being deemed utterly insensitive, has evoked angry reactions from social media users.
Here are some reactions;
Bhopal Mayor rode a bicycle (with Laal batti) on a specially laid green carpet for Environment day. Farce we love! pic.twitter.com/32gjejJfGc
— Aisi Taisi Democracy (@AisiTaisiDemo) June 5, 2016
Seeking media attention, Bhopal mayor rides cycle with red beacon reducing importance of green day
— deshdeep saxena (@deshdeepsTOI) June 5, 2016
VVIP Racism?? https://t.co/Juq45Sefjf via @youtube
— #Vote4AamAadmi (@aamaadmikesath) June 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/ishwarkaraja/status/739440076996763648
पर्यावरण दिवस पर भोपाल के मेयर की मसखरी, साइकिल पर आए लाल बत्ती लगाकरhttps://t.co/EIi7iWC6jR
— Simran Dhillon (@AAPdiSimmi) June 6, 2016
our illiterate literates who run the country.
— temporal_verse (@siddhesh_5) June 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/indomitablesoul/status/739417802885451776
@DrKumarVishwas सिर्फ साइकिल इन्होंने अपने गंजे सर पे और एक और आदमी जिसके बाल थे दोनों के पानी डलवाया अजीब ढंग से शिक्षा दी?
— Ashish Srivastava (@Ashish_Sri_dada) June 5, 2016
Oh don't we just love such tokenisms! Maybe reason y we celebrate al such days & then go back to being d hypocrites dat we r.
— Wanderingsoul (@ipsita_3101) June 5, 2016