Why do our Netas need protection from people?

Our netas need to be protected from the people. The Mahatma was gunned down by a religious bigot. There was incessant communal violence, then. Yet, Nehru never had any security.
Why do the present-day netas require protection from the people, who they claim to "Represent"? Haven't we heard Renuka Chowdary protesting on TV that the neta-class to which she belongs, represent the will of 120 Crores of Indians. She too has some protection from her representative, perhaps not as vigilant and obvious as seen in the picture.