Most of those who lost their lives in the Milestone School plane crash are children. Hospitals and rescue teams are desperately trying to save those brought in. The entire country is in grief. At such a time, the behaviour of some politicians has raised a serious question: Will our politicians ever demonstrate maturity and good judgement? Or will they be busy trying to be the subject of camera attention and promoting themselves?
Children were getting ready to go home after classes, some perhaps waiting for friends, others playing with their classmates. Suddenly, a whirlwind of death descended from the sky. The families of the deceased children have lost their dreams, and a wave of grief has spread across the city. Yet, even in this deep sorrow, the same old drama was staged: The gathering of politicians, their followers, cameras, and speeches. Doesn't this behaviour make people doubt their sincerity?
We saw how the arrival of leaders at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery has caused chaos. Ignoring doctors' requests and the weeping parents 'pleas, the leaders, followed by large groups of followers, entered the hospital. Over a hundred supporters, protocol vehicles, media flashes, and live streaming YouTubers transformed the hospital into something else.
The question is, was their presence at that moment even necessary? Is this how empathy is expressed? When 80% of a child's body is burned, does standing beside them to take a photo help ease their suffering? When the child's family is desperately searching for blood, does pushing them aside to make way for a national leader reflect a sense of responsibility?
What would have happened in some other countries?
In France, Japan, or even India's capital, it is unimaginable that political leaders with large groups would walk into a scene of an accident or an ongoing emergency medical operation. The United Nations and European Union follow an Incident Command System (ICS). This system divides the site into the following categories: Hot (for trained emergency responders only), Warm (for logistics), and Cold (for media personnel and the general public). And the political leaders? They stay away. When the time is right, they arrive and abide by the safety and regulatory protocols.
Physicians kept telling journalists that crowding significantly increased the risks of infections in burn patients, but the politicians ignored the pleas and disrupted efforts to save lives. The more prominent the leader, the sooner their vehicle arrived at the hospital gate! The more followers they have, the more ambulances they block! And the faster a post is made on their Facebook page!
As the surgeons' gloves soaked in the blood of children with burn injuries, some of our political leaders were too busy competing for some airtime.
What else could they do?
Instead of crowding the hospitals, they could have issued a joint statement from afar. Had they collectively expressed their condolences in a unified voice, we would have felt reassured that at least in one aspect, our leaders were able to come together in solidarity.
But none of that happened. Instead, what unfolded was 'publicity stunts'.
Will this political culture ever change?
Will we ever have political leaders who say, "I won't go there now; let them save the children"? Will we ever witness leadership that understands showmanship is not mourning?
A true leader commands respect even from afar. People invoke their name because of their wisdom and moral strength. But here, even amidst grief, we have roadshows!
Elections are not far. There will be plenty of promises. But if we truly want change, then we must ask: Can those who seek camera attention during moments of grief truly take responsibility for the country?
Otherwise, this kind of theatre will keep playing on—through death itself.
Javed Hussen is a writer and translator
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