“We have
taken this decision on the recommendation made by FICCI and ASSOCHAM. As per
them, road rage has been the driving force behind many industries not even related
to automobiles. Those embroiled in the fight damage each other’s vehicle, break
heads, tear clothes etc. This leads to revenue generation for healthcare, auto-ancillary, garments and many related industries who then pay taxes and thus run the
nation. However the on-lookers who get ‘phokat
ka tamasha’ don’t pay any charges or taxes and which is not right. So we
have kept a nominal charge of 10Rs/minute. The law would be applicable from
immediate effect in all Congress ruled states.“ On another question asked on
the so called nominal charges to be too high, he replied vehemently, “The
middle class can buy 2000 Rs ticket for watching fixed IPL matches but can’t
pay 10Rs for watching a Reality fight.”
Our sources went to the general public to get their reaction on the decision taken.
One of the respondents said, “Watching an early morning Road rage fight was a
big motivating factor for me to go to work early morning. When I would reach Manyatha flyover, I would park my bike,
light a cigarette and wait for a fight to happen. That anger, that fury, those
flying punches the atmosphere would be electrifying. My lone moment of
excitement has also been snatched away. ”, said an emotional IT employee of
Bangalore as he wiped his tears.
Another
respondent named Krodheshwar Goswami who is a revered road rage fighter had
this to say, “I just can’t believe this. After a spending frustrating day at
office these road rage fights with autowallah
would lift my mood up. It’s amazing how some twenty odd people would surround
you trying to control you, the constable would ask you to cool down, some would
even fear you, and at times you also get media coverage. I would be pampered as
if I am someone from the Royal (Gandhi) family of India. Besides, I must have
made some fifty odd friends during such fights with people who tried to stop
me. In fact most of the time I would hit an auto rickshaw on purpose to pick up
a fight with him. It’s all gone yaar,
it’s all gone.”
Our reporter
‘Chitrakar Patrakar(CP)’ also got a first-hand
experience of one such fight after the law got implemented. There was a Sardarji
and an autowallah fighting over some petty issue. Slowly a crowd of on-lookers
had gathered while CP went ahead and sorted the fight with the help of some
police man. At the end of it the policeman handed him a receipt.
CP: Ohh!
Road Rage charges, Here you go. (Hands the policeman 300 bucks)
Police: What
is this? Read it carefully.
CP:
Threeeeee….Three thousand rupees. But for thirty minutes it comes out to be
Rs300.
Police: Sir
those rates are applicable for Happy
Hours. During peak hours it is 20 Rs per hour.
CP: So that
makes it 30X20= 600 Bucks.
Police: For
metropolitan city the charges are double.
CP: Alright
so that makes it 40X30 = 1200. What about the rest?
Police: Sir
Entertainment tax for this city is 25%.
CP: That
makes it 1500Rs, that’s half the money.
Police: A
surcharge of 33% for watching the fight in prime location.
CP: WOW! OK,
so that makes it Rs 2000. What about the rest.
Police: I
came and sorted the fight, so a Police service
charge of 20% would also be calculated on it.
CP: OMG! So
that makes it 2400. What about the six hundred?
Police : 4% VAT
CP: God
knows what value you added. Alright that makes it 2500, what about 500Rs?
Police: So
you want me to return you your 500 bucks, alright. Give me your driving license
and I would lodge a police complaint. You will have to come to court for next
five Mondays in continuation, post that you can collect your driving license
from the court. I hope you don’t have a problem with that? (He chuckled)
CP: Just
keep the five hundred.
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The post also got published in theunrealtimes.com . Here is the link
Road Rage
The post also got published in theunrealtimes.com . Here is the link
Road Rage
