Friends, Should Schools And Colleges Remain Closed on PM's Visit"

"Friends, should schools and Colleges remain closed on PM's visit"? runs the heading of lead story in a leading local city pull-outs.The heading underlines the mindset of the "city beautiful", which prides in its academic pursuits.  Chandigarh administration had ordered the closure of all schools and colleges  on Friday  following Prime Minister. And the reports in newspapers  say this is, for first time that schools and colleges are closed on Prime Minister's visit. Not only the schools and colleges, even the only crematorium in city remained closed as it was converted into parking for Prime Minister's cavalcade. So, residents had to postpone the cremation even for accommodating Prime Minister's visit. Families that are bereaved have been asked to use another crematorium in the western part of the city. A war hero,Brigadier Devinder Singh , who fought in the Kargil war in 1999 against Pakistan,  had to cremate his son in nearby Mohali  His 24-year-old son was killed in a road accident yesterday. Prime Minister was in Chandigarh for inaugurating new terminal of Chandigarh Airport built at a cost of Rs. 939 crore. Over 350 acre land was given by Punjab to build the new international terminal falling in Punjab. The airport is a joint venture between Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the governments of Punjab and Haryana.AAI has 51 per cent stake in the project while Punjab and Haryana have 24.5 per cent equity each. Designed on the green building concept, the terminal in Mohali (Punjab) is spread over 53,000 sq.m and can handle 1,600 passengers, including 450 international travellers, during peak time.  After inaugurating the airport, he went to PGI to preside over its annual convocation. He later attended a Chandigarh Housing Board function by handing over keys to allottees.  Prime Minister addressed a rally in Sector 25 . near to crematorium . In all, Prime Minister remained in city for four hours.  At least 4,500 police personnel, including commandos and SWAT team members , were deployed to ensure the PM's security. In all, Prime Minister spent over fours hours in the city. And  for protecting him, half of the city roads remained closed  and barricaded restricting the movement of  tri-city residents. Now, the big question is: was it necessary to invite country's Prime Minister for airport inauguration or handing over keys to CHB allottes? Is Prime Minister of a country as huge as India so free as be available for inaugurating a airport and  such sundry functions? After all, if all such functions could be performed by other than the Prime Minister and heaven wouldn't have fallen. The main idea of inviting Prime Minister to Chandigarh was to drive political mileage. By inaugurating a airport in Mohali, PM has almost sounded the assembly elections bugle. Punjab Assembly elections are due in January 2017. Besides, Haryana has announced elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in first week of October. Rally in sector 25 was aimed with this in mind. It is now a universal truth that  Prime Minister Modi is the only "vote catcher" in  BJP-run NDA. But then, sane voices would say why should citizens be harassed for getting political mileage? How long we will tolerate the our Netas' paroxysm. Let us raise our voices.