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'I wish VVIPs visited Agra only at night'

Talk about VVIP visits to the Taj and chances are that Agra residents will wrinkle their nose in distaste.

"Clintonbhai aur Putinbhai Agra aate hain aur humein dukh hi dukh de jaate hain," (When President Clinton and President Putin visit Agra we get a load of misery) lamented Rajiv Suman, an autorickshaw driver.

His reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin's brief visit to Agra on Wednesday afternoon to see Emperor Shah Jahan's stunning memorial to his wife were a reflection of the litany of woes which the city's residents have to undergo during such visits.

Rajiv complained about the traffic jams, automobile, noise and dust pollution and the dadagiri (high-handedness) of the city cops when pressed into service during VVIP visits.

"When President Clinton was here in March, the city had been requested to put up its best behaviour. It means that people like us, those plying taxis and autorickshaws, should quietly make do with the bullying by officials when the VVIP is in town," he pointed out.

At the Sadar Bazar crossing, traffic was held up for more than 45 minutes when President Putin, who savoured the Taj along with his wife Lyudmila, was about to leave with his entourage for the airport.

Beat constables aided traffic policemen in managing the unruly bus and car drivers who, put off at having to sweat it out in the traffic jam, hurled expletives at each other.

Rajiv claimed that when Clinton visited Agra, he was caught up in a traffic jam behind the Raja Mandi area. When he inched his autorickshaw forward, a policeman hit his vehicle with his lathi.

"I had to spend Rs 260 for mending the dent," Rajiv said, adding that he wished VVIPs visited Agra only at night.

64-year-old Darshan Pyare said people tend to avoid travelling in autorickshaws during VVIP visits because apart from the 'rising metre', the traffic cops, for some unknown reason, single out these vehicles for 'special treatment'.

He said the cops allege that autorickshaws are the worst polluters of the city of the Taj and, therefore, should either be phased out or have Compressed Natural Gas engines.

"How can I afford a CNG engine? It costs about Rs 150,000," he wailed.

Handicraft shops that do brisk business on normal days are also affected during VVIP visits because traffic jams mean fewer customers.

"I have had only three customers today and it is already 4.00 p.m. On other days, by this time, I get at least ten," said Mehfooz Ashraf selling mini replicas of the Taj Mahal and assorted curios behind St John's crossing.

He agreed that cops seemed to go berserk during VVIP visits because they too have a harrowing time on such occasions.

For the 'small-time' tourist, Agra is a definite no-go when the Clintons and Putins grace the city. Not only is the Taj off-limits but by some strange logic, the city becomes more expensive during VVIP visits.

"I made the mistake of coming to Agra on the day of Putin's visit. I don't know if we will be allowed in even after Putin leaves. Maybe, I have to stay back for another day to take in the Taj Mahal. I know it sounds rude but President Putin has made things costlier for me," said Shobha, a typist from Palwal.

She was in Agra along with her friends Rashmi and Sudha to have a look at the world's seventh wonder.

The Putin visit: The full coverage

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