What we are witnessing in Delhi today is historic – for the first time since Independence a legitimate political party has refused to play by the rules that all political parties in India have battened on for sixty-five years; for the first time a State Government has taken on the Central Government at its own doorstep; for the first time a Chief Minister and his entire Cabinet are sitting in protest in their own capital; for the first time their own police force is ranged against them in their thousands.
The immediate reason for this may be the demand for the suspension of five police officials, but the actual reason is more basic, and fundamental to any democracy — accountability of the rulers to the ruled.
The rulers are not just the politicians and the bureaucrats – they are also the larger constituency that benefits from the present status quo: the industrialists, the TV and news organisations, the “cognoscenti”, the “glitterati”, the South Delhi socialites, the “intelligentsia” that makes a nice living by appearing nightly on TV panel discussions: in short, all those who are comfortable with the status quo.
They have, with the assistance of disgruntled elements like Kiran Bedi and Captain Gopinath, unleashed a veritable barrage of abuse and condemnation against Kejriwal and his party over the last week, terming him a Dictator, Anarchist, Chief Protestor, Law-breaker and so on.
It is because they feel genuinely threatened by the forces that the AAP has unleashed, the ethical standards that it has prescribed and demonstrated, the personal examples that its leaders have shown. Because they know that if these paradigms become the norm of a new India then the sand castles that these privileged reside in shall come crumbling down in no time.
And so they accuse Kejriwal of not following prescribed conventions, protocol or procedure and thus encouraging anarchy. Let us look at just three of these alleged transgressions:
1. Law Minister Somnath Bharti asking for a meeting of judicial officers of Delhi. What is improper about this? Isn’t the judiciary a part of the government – funded, staffed, appointed by the state.
Yes, it is operationally independent of the government (as it should be) but it is certainly not a holy cow whose performance cannot be questioned, or monitored, by the people of this country through their elected representatives.
The judiciary is meant to serve the people, just as the bureaucracy is, and it cannot have internal accountability only. An elected government has to have the right to review its performance, especially given the pathetic state of the disposal of cases in courts.
In my view Mr. Bharti was within his rights to take a meeting of judicial officers to assess the shortcomings of the system (which is the first step to removing these shortcomings). Yes, he could have routed the request through the High Court, but this was a trivial error and certainly not the grievous violation that the media made it out to be.
To the contrary, the Law Minister should be lauded for his initiative in seeking to address the issue instead of washing his hands of it as ALL LAW MINISTERS OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE DONE SO FAR, as if the collapse of the judicial redressal system was no concern of the government!
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2. Subsidies on water and power to small consumers in Delhi (something for which Kejriwal has been contemptuously branded a populist). Really?
The Central Government dishes out more than 160000 crores worth of subsidy every year on just three schemes (Mid-day Meals, MNREGA and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan). Just about every state gives subsidies on water and power.
Here’s something Mr. Arnab Goswami and his kind should consider: the Golf Club in New Delhi which has about 4000 privileged members (all of whom are now arraigned against Kejriwal) has been given 250 acres of the most expensive real estate in the country worth 60000 crores for a paltry lease of about Rs. 15 lakhs per annum.
The annual return on Rs. 60000 crores should be at the very least Rs. 6000 crores: in effect, what this means is that every member of the Golf Club is being given a subsidy of Rs. 1.50 crores every year! The same is the case with the Gymkhana Club, another watering hole for the rich, the famous, and the now scared.
According to the latest report of the RBI, the total non-performing assets (NPA) of the Banks in India is more than Rs. 1.60 lakh crores.
NPA is just a euphemism for what the Vijay Mallyas and the Captain Gopinaths of the world owe to the aam aadmi (and refuse to pay) while flying all over the world in their private jets and pontificating in TV studios on the correct form of governance. Is it “populism” if indulged in by Kejriwal, and “entitlement” and “economic surge” when practiced by others ?
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3. Somnath Bharti’s (Kejriwal’s Law Minister) mid-night visit to Khirkee village has generated so much misinformation, ignorance of the law, reverse racism and hypocritical harangues that it is sickening.
Shorne of all this, what does the entire incident amount to? Merely this: a Minister, in response to complaints by residents (which are on record, as is the police inaction on them for months) of a locality personally visits the spot and asks the police to take immediate action by raiding the building where illegal activities are taking place.
The police refuse and insult the Minister. This is the essence of the matter.
All the rest – search warrants, lack of female police, racism, urinating in public, cavity search(!) [the latest addition to the shrinking vocabulary of Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi] etc.- are red herrings and a smoke screen which no doubt the judicial Inquiry Commission shall see through.
How was the Minister wrong in asking the police to take action? Is it a Minister’s job to simply sit in an air-conditioned office and write on files? (a question which Kejriwal has asked and to which we are still waiting for an enlightened response from Ms. Barkha Dutt and gang).
Does the police require a search warrant to enter a place where they have reason to believe that illegal activities are going on? Really, Mr. Salve?
If so, then how do you explain their barging into the house in the Batla House encounter and shooting three people, WITHOUT A SEARCH WARRANT? Or their constant nocturnal forays into the poor whore-houses of GB Road whenever they are short of spending money?
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No, sir, the opposition to Kejriwal from the BJP and the Congress, from the Arnab Goswamis, Rajdeep Sardesais, the Barkha Dutts, the Kiran Bedis, from the Editors of English dailies, from the captains of industry, from the Single Malts and Bloody Marys of Gymkhana and Golf Clubs, does not stem from any illegality or impropriety on his part, or from any ideological differences between them.
It stems from their complete and total failure to comprehend what Kejriwal is and what he stands for. It stems also from the deep social divide between the upper crust of society( who are happy with the status quo where their money, power and contacts can ensure them a comfortable life) and the masses below them who have to daily bear the brunt of the system inspired corruption, harassment, inconvenience and indignity that the present dispensation guarantees them.
This (hitherto unacknowledged and invisible) divide becomes clear when we compare the editorial slants of the English and Hindi channels in the coverage of the ongoing protests: the former are virulently anti AAP and only pop up panelists who support that view, while the latter appear to be more understanding of what AAP is trying to do.
Those who are denouncing Kejriwal for being an autocrat, anarchist, activist and for protesting at Raisina Road are missing the most obvious point of his movement – THAT KEJRIWAL WILL NOT PLAY BY THEIR RULES ANY MORE.
As they say in Las Vegas – you can’t beat the house, because the dice are loaded against you. Everyone wants him to play with their set of dice which they mysteriously call the Constitution and the CRPC!) but Kejriwal wants to play with his own dice, hence the confrontation.
They want him to pass a joint resolution of the Assembly for bringing the police under the Delhi govt.-he’s smart enough to see that the resolution will be thrown into the same waste paper basket where presumably the Ordinance on protecting convicted MPs was consigned by Rahul Gandhi.
They want him to be a good boy and take his dharna to Jantar Mantar where all civilised protests begin and inevitably end, while the govt. of the day can get on with its gerrymandering uninterrupted-he knows that unless he disrupts the comfortable existence of the bourgeois he may as well relieve himself in the Yamuna for all the difference he will make.
They want him to sit in the Secretariat and be guided by his bureaucrats and lose all touch with reality- he won’t fall for this Pavlovian routine. They desperately want him to become one of them, red light, siren, gun-toting commandos, Lutyen’s bungalow and all- he knows that if he falls for this he loses his USP and becomes just an intern in this hoary club of gnarled sinners.
They want him to follow the script co-authored by all the political parties of the day, not one excluded, because this script contains an agreed-upon plot, wherein politicians make noises but don’t act against each other, wherein corruption is just a sound-bite, where dynastic succession is a silently accepted sine qua non, where no one is interested in finding out whether the hundreds of proved Swiss bank accounts contain anything other than Swiss chocolates – Kejriwal, however, wants to write his own script with substantial inputs from the aam aadmi, not from the Ambanis or the Radias or the Shobhna Bhartias.
They want him to talk about corruption but not do anything about it, something Manish Tewari’s poetic flair would term “willing to wound but afraid to strike”, an attitude as old as Chanakya and Kautilya which offers all of us a catharsis via the good offices of Arnab Goswami and little else- but Kejriwal is no respecter of Machiavelli or Chanakya, his vocabulary is limited because he can only call a spade a spade, he is colour blind because he can only see in black and white (the shades of greys can be left for the likes of Manu Singhvi), and therefore he insists on striking, not just talking.
Is there any cause for surprise, therefore, at why the present dispensation, both in and out of government, is rattled by this five foot four inch “insect” from Ghaziabad? He is neither fish nor fowl, he defies understanding.
The establishment has made the supreme mistake of trying to counter him by quoting the rules of the game (loaded in the former’s favour, naturally!) they are past masters of- but Kejriwal has changed the rules, and now they don’t know how to control him or neutralise him.
For the time being only Kejriwal knows the new rules, and he is springing them on the carpet baggers one by one, catching them by surprise all the time.
Forget the English TV channels-they rarely get anything right. Forget the Manish Tewaris, the Kiran Bedis, the FICCI spokespersons, the Minakshi Lekhis- they are either scared witless or rank opportunists. What they all do have in common, however, is that they have failed to see how the common man-the aam aadmi-are gathering behind this dimunitive man with the perpetual cough.
The sincerity, integrity and commitment of this man is phenomenal, his capacity to harness the anger and frustration of the people is limitless. His defiance of accepted conventions and interpretations is not anarchy – it is nothing short of a revolution. When the people have had enough of injustice, callousness and indignity, they will not play by the rules of the rulers-they will make new rules.
The French Revolution would not have happened if the existing rules had been followed. Tehrir Square would not have happened if everyone swore by the old rules. Changing the rules, Mr. Home Minister, is not anarchy – it is the beginning of a people’s revolution.
The sooner we realise this the less pain in the transition, the less violence. No matter how the stand-off in Delhi ends – capitulation by the Home Minister and the Police, withdrawal of support by the Congress, imposition of President’s Rule, police violence on the protesters and their eviction – one thing is certain: Kejriwal is going nowhere.
He, and his paradigms, are here to stay and haunt our rulers. With his uncanny understanding of the pulse of the people he has re-written the rules of politics and governance.
There are now only two options Kejriwal has left the ruling class – either they change, or the people will change them.
| The author retired from the IAS in December 2010. A keen environmentalist and trekker he has published a book on high altitude trekking in the Himachal Himalayas: THE TRAILS LESS TRAVELLED.
His second book- SPECTRE OF CHOOR DHAR is a collection of short stories based in Himachal and was published in July 2019. His third book was released in August 2020: POLYTICKS, DEMOCKRAZY AND MUMBO JUMBO is a compilation of satirical and humorous articles on the state of our nation. His fourth book was published on 6th July 2021. Titled INDIA: THE WASTED YEARS , the book is a chronicle of missed opportunities in the last nine years. Shukla’s fifth book – THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DOG AND OTHER COLLEAGUES- was released on 12th September 2023. It portrays the lighter side of life in the IAS and in Himachal. He writes for various publications and websites on the environment, governance and social issues. He divides his time between Delhi and his cottage in a small village above Shimla. He blogs at http://avayshukla.blogspot.in/ |
Interesting article and viewpoint. However, I see quite a few things that I personally have an issue with. Here’s my take:
1) First of all the writer claims that this isn’t “Anarchy” but a revolution. So, what about the statement that Kejriwal gave to the press saying “Yes I am an anarchist”. This brand wasn’t bestowed upon him (even though many were thinking it) until he came out and officially labelled himself that.
2) Cause or the reason of this ‘dharna’ seems to me is still unclear. From the writer “The immediate reason for this MAY BE the demand for the suspension of five police officials, but the actual reason is more basic, and fundamental to any democracy — accountability of the rulers to the ruled.” And what about all the other reasons that were given such as Delhi not being part of the Union, Women rights, etc. This right to ‘accountability’ should also allow the system to fire or suspend the ‘Law’ minister. Who is he accountable to? This very same right should allow the system to arrest the Chief Minister for protesting against the law and order. I always say be careful what you wish for, it might just come true.
3) Calling Kiran Bedi and Captain Gopinath ‘disgruntled’ is the same as the name calling from them. Anarchist is something Kerjriwal branded himself, Chief Protestor was mentioned to make a contrast between the Chief Minister’s office and post to the activism that is still ongoing. Law-breaker! Well, based on the constitution of India they ‘did’ break the law. Unless we amend the laws of this country the term is accurate.
4) The “ethical standards and the personal examples of the leaders of AAP”? I really hope that the citizens of Delhi don’t follow their examples because that will amount to nothing more than anarchy which will do more harm than good.
5) Nobody is after the Law Minister Somnath Bharti for asking for a meeting of judicial officers of Delhi. They are questioning his methods of illegal raids, and human rights abuse.
6) The summary of the water subsidy issue from the article is “Is it “populism” if indulged in by Kejriwal, and “entitlement” and “economic surge” when practiced by others?” Really, so that’s the best defense AAP has? “We are doing it because others are doing it too”?? How about answering questions like, who is paying for this subsidy in the long term? What happens when the subsidy runs out? What about the infrastructure that is badly in need of this money? And if it is a ‘subsidy’ then why AAP does insists in calling it’ free’ water for ‘everyone’. Does it really reach everyone? Or is it only to those has metered connections? Why wasn’t this made clear due election campaigns?
7) In common sense versus “Somnath Bharti’s (Kejriwal’s Law Minister) mid-night visit to Khirkee village case” I saw no compelling argument why this is justified from the perspective of the ‘law’. Consider the fact that you are cop, and are being repeatedly asked to perform a raid with no evidence and no search warrants by a high elected official and a ‘law’ minister nonetheless. How would you react? The police decided to follow the law rather than the law minister in this instance. They knew that when shit hits the fan, they will be the only ones left to blame and to persecute (especially if turns into an international event). From the article: “How was the Minister wrong in asking the police to take action? Is it a Minister’s job to simply sit in an air-conditioned office and write on files? (a question which Kejriwal has asked and to which we are still waiting for an enlightened response from Ms. Barkha Dutt and gang).” I have already answered part one of the question. However just to be perfectly clear. The minister in question wasn’t ‘asking’ the police to ‘take action’ he was ‘telling’ them ‘which action’ to take and when. Which is why I (and apparently the Delhi Police) have an issue with this? If one is to make a request to the police to take action, then one should wait for the police to conduct its inquiry, rather than taking the law into one’s hand. But that’s just me. As for the part two of the question even though it is irrelevant (which is why no one has bothered to entertain this question) I will answer it for AAP. “No” it isn’t. There I said it. But what it doesn’t mean is that the minister has a green light on breaking the law whenever it is inconvenient to follow proper procedures. Again the only rebuttal I see from the article is the encounter that took place in the Batla house. I am sorry but that’s just not good enough. How do two wrongs make a right? And aren’t the Law Minister and the Chief Minister to model by example and not follow the ‘bad’ examples (assuming that is what they are not knowing the circumstances surrounding the case).
8) The oath of the Chief Minister (google is a wonderful thing):” I, , do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as a Minister for the State of and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.” So where does the issue of “not playing by the same rules” fit in? When the CM took the oath, he did so to uphold the law and the constitution. So until that is changed he needs to (no required to/mandated to) “play by the rules” without “ill-will”. As for moving the protest to Jantar Mantar, Anna Hazare has no issues with the location. Will the message be any less confusing if he moves there?
9) From the article: “They want him to pass a joint resolution of the Assembly for bringing the police under the Delhi govt.-he’s smart enough to see that the resolution will be thrown…” First of all who is ‘they’? By ‘they’ the writer means the constitution of India. That is how civilized democratic nations address issues in the parliament. Let it be voted on. If his reasoning is sound then let it be heard and discussed and debated. The protests are good when you are an activist and encourage no debates to your point-of-view. But as an administrator one must be ready for everyone’s opinion.
10) The rest of the article had much to offer except some unrealistic comparisons of AK/AAP to the French revolution and the Egypt revolution. I can go on further in explaining why they do not apply are even close to AAP’s ideologies but I think people are smart enough these days to see beyond the sound bites and can make that assessment on their own.
11) Here’s how it ends:” When the people have had enough of injustice, callousness and indignity, they will not play by the rules of the rulers-they will make new rules. The sooner we realise this the less pain in the transition, the less violence. No matter how the stand-off in Delhi ends – capitulation by the Home Minister and the Police, withdrawal of support by the Congress, imposition of President’s Rule, police violence on the protesters and their eviction – one thing is certain: Kejriwal is going nowhere.” First then AAP is indeed an anarchy and anything but democratic. Naturally there would be violence, and AK/AAP is fine in calling them ‘freedom fighters’ or ‘collateral damage’ in the process in order to justify his means. So the ends do justify his means in his mind. I wonder though if every Delhite who voted for him is fine with this clash of two systems and be the sacrificial lambs, when all they wanted was water, electricity, food, infrastructure, employment, ‘less violence and crime’ and a better future for their generations.
Very well written Avinash. I hope your points get mentioned as an article on hillpost.
Very good Avinash. But it would be better if you abridged it.
Well, I believe that had the Robin Hood myth not existed, we would not be paying taxes on our incomes. The socialist thought process of equalizing people by bringing the rich lower rather than uplifting the poor is what led India to an economic crisis in 1991.
The main motto of the whole bunch of people behind AAP has been to end the corrupt ruling party’s reign. They probably did not plan to do something once the ruling party was out. I mean, if you are anti – something, once the thing you are opposing ends, you basically have no purpose left to play. Just as a large police force would be redundant in a locality with virtually zero crime.
Had the party been pro-progress or pro-development instead of anti – corruption, anti – rich and anti – progress, we would have seen something positive from this party.
In the end, with democracy, you get what you deserve and politicians come into power reflecting the collective opinion of people. Let’s see how much longer the anarchy started by this Anti Amdani Party continue…
Here are my answers to you Avinash!
Ans to Point1) Anarchist – Oh yes it wasn’t bestowed upon him, oh yes he called himself an Anarchist… and like the Barkha Dutts of the world you just did the same… take one part of the argument and present it to the world… Kejriwal’s statement that he is an Anarchist was a response to a whole big discussion and he gave a well educated reason for calling his revolution an Anarchy if opposition (parties full of criminals) chose to do so. Mahatma Gandhi also created an Anarchy (which was called a revolution) for a trivial reason – he dint feel traveling in a train with tickets is a crime just because his skin color is different. See the reason behind the revolution sir.
Ans to Point2) Reason for Dharna is Unclear? Really? After such a huge well-articulated, well-informed article above, it is still unclear to you? And yes like in your Point1 you again are beating around the bush by trying to pick the accountability card which by all means is the fundamental issue but using it against the very people, who have put in effort to come out on roads and committed themselves for AAM AADMI’s cause is crap. You yourself answered here, and then you go on and are asking accountability from CM by breaking law and protesting, which is a fundamental right of any Indian that s/he can protest if the very law meant for them is protecting the corrupts. Check this – http://www.tehelka.com/we-stripped-and-shouted-indian-army-rape-me-it-was-the-right-thing-to-do/ They Protested in a way they thought the status quo will be changed coz they are suffering. Lemme list the Reasons for Dharna: Suspend those Police officers for 1) not acting when they could have like they do in many other cases listed in the article. 2) Not acting on on-record complaints given by locals from months.
Ans to Point3) I answered this already above in Ans to Point2) Mahatma Gandhi got the law changed by sitting on protest again and again, went to jail, got many fellow Indians injured by the law-makers then who wanted the status quo. Kiran Bedis should just not be given any importance as I forsee her taking an oath in Modi’s govt soon. And I would not be surprised then if she says she had to join politics and take responsibility for which she is thrashing Kejriwal.
Ans to Point4) Citizens of Delhi and a good chunk of them have followed AAP that’s why we have people from among them in Delhi Govt as Ministers, so guess we should just leave it at that.
Ans to Point5) You are either not informed enough or don’t even want to do your homework before making a point. Sorry if this sounds like getting personal. What is an illegal raid? There is this police who is involved in not following the law (proof is that even after on record complaints from months together they haven’t acted, proof is that under narcotics act they dont need a warrant to search a place, proof is that even if they need a warrant they can get the team to surround /seal the place and get the search warrant), Minister goes to the spot, calls the SHO and the law protector even after coming there refuse to act. It like Avinash see that someone is trying to steal your car, you call the police patrolling in your area, they come but tell you to stop crying coz the car is not stolen yet. And while police came you tried to stop the theft and have beaten the thief. Lemme and everyone else now know what will you do if the suspect turns back and say that you’v abused his human rights and he wasnt doing anything and you should be jailed?
Thats hypothetical, lemme tell you my personal experience – There was this couple who stayed in an apartment next to my Building. I had heard a lot of screams from that house earlier but one night around 3 am I heard a girl’s screams coming from their kitchen window facing my balcony. The screams were so loud as if someone is struggling for life. I waited for some time but screams just went louder. I decided to intervene and went down. The security of that building dint allow me to enter and when I asked him to go himself he told me that its not something thats for the first time. Everyone knows it, their neighbors, society’s president but no one acts. And if he lets me go or goes himself to the apartment he’ll lose his job. I then decided to call police. I took the number from the security guy and called nearest Police station at Old Airport Road, Bangalore. Within 10 minutes two Hoysala police constables arrived. With them I went to the apartment. Couple in the apartment have brought two underage girls (15 and 13) from village as domestic helps and used to beat them. The man (working for a reputed IT firm) argued with me about getting police at his house and threatened me that he will do the same tomorrow framing me under some charge. He out-rightly refused that anything happened in that house. Coz I knew the story from security of the building, he was from the same place those little girls were, I asked the man to call the girls. He first refused to do so and when Police guys shouted at him he had to budge. Poor girls were not able to stand on their feet. The reason this man gave is that these girls want to go back to village and pestering him for that so that’s why he was beating them. Police guys then told him that he and his wife can get booked for Child abuse. One of the Police guy then took his details – his name, where he works, his contact details etc. This couple then said sorry to Police guys and promised that they will book the earliest tickets and send the girls back. Police did nothing but just gave him a warning and left the scene. When I asked why would they leave him, they told me its not their case, I should have called the Child helpline. My friends told me that the Police would have taken money from this guy later for not registering the case. I was satisfied that I atleast gave this couple an experience and I was determined if I hear such a thing again, instead of calling police I will call Child Care.
If you are not satisfied please Watch this – http://youtu.be/qeC6uHCLE-4?t=6m10s (I recommend you to watch full video but if you don’t have time watch till 14 minutes 44 seconds).
Ans to Point6) Lemme answer your queries (Who is paying for these subsidies in long term or what happens of the subsidy runs out) – Sir this subsidy is given for a reason which of course is for short term if you dont know and the reason in my mind is to 1) to have people from all parts of the society to have a meter installed 2) Controlling Water mafia 3) Get the distribution companies audited which was pending from BJP cum Congress since five years… it’s a Govt not even a month old and you are already asking the long term implications when there are Govts ruled the stated for decades, screwed every known system to a level where we are at the brink of entering a Real Anarchy…
Ans to Point7) I have already answer this one in detail above in Ans to Point5) but will pick some of your (irresponsibly put) points considering you are talking about common sense.
– “Somnath Bharti’s (Kejriwal’s Law Minister) mid-night visit to Khirkee village case” – Why is there a tradition of ministers going for Surprise visits? Our Bangalore’s famous Lokayukta made many surprise visits and caught corrupts red handed. Common sense says, they are doing their job, coz its their responsibility that the system made for people should work for people.
– Consider the fact that you are cop, and are being repeatedly asked to perform a raid with no evidence and no search warrants by a high elected official and a ‘law’ minister nonetheless. How would you react? – I have answered that already but would like to mention again (that you haven’t done your homework properly before investing your time in writing so much or I should say wasting your time trying to demean AAP by using words calling them names and saying they are going without proper channels) – that there are written complaints and FIR’s from months that Police was sitting on. Whom are we fooling Avinash, you are favoring police who are involved in this racket and obviously (common sense) wont act against the culprits?
– About the Foreign nationals being involved – A criminal is a criminal. If Devyani Khobragade can get strip searched for not paying her domestic help per the rules (we can debate if it was such a huge crime etc), what are we talking about here – someone indulging in drug deals and is doing it openly and what our Police does is leave the scene and Minister present himself has to argue that they should act?
Ans to Point8) Did Shiela Dixit and company follow constitution by indulging in the biggest of the biggest scam? And here you are trying to teach the meaning of Oath to someone who is going and sitting on Dharna for a cause?
Ans to Point9) Atleast to Kejriwal and team no one can say that they avoid debates. So relax, even Kejriwal (an IRS knows more than me not sure what you are) and team (having top notch lawyers) know that rules are not made on Streets.
Ans to Point10) Guess am smart enough and am sure there are millions out there who are equally or smarter than me… to understand that if we did not take action we are for sure heading towards what the writer mentioned (French revolution and the Egypt revolution).
Ans to Point11) Watch the video again – what AAP Govt’s has delivered in 3 weeks before you comment on what Delhites have voted him for.
My end to the argument is – Thanks Avinash to give me an opportunity to answer every question that you raised, that probably many others would also have. AAP has come out of India Against Corruption and these are people like you and me. There will obviously be methods that you would find different. Give them sometime, there will be mistakes that AAP is modest enough to accept and take responsibility and learn. Don’t doubt is what I would recommend.
Hi Rakesh,
Below are my responses to your answers/comments (please understand that I value everyone’s opinion and this by no means is meant to demean you):
Response to Point 1) Sure, he may have, but the fact still remains that he chose to name himself an “anarchist”. Which is being translated as “revolutionary” here? Anarchy doesn’t automatically translate to “Revolution”. Please do not compare AK to Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi wasn’t labelled an “anarchist” by his own party or inner circle, but by the foreign government which had taken hold off the country. He opposed the state as long as it was governed by British. AK on the other hand takes an oath to uphold the constitution and then protests against his own government.
Response to Point 2) Sorry, but perhaps you are purposely trying to miss the confusion that AAP’s protest is causing or are already convinced that this is the correct approach in dealing with issues such as this. My contention is that if as CM ‘protesting’ is what he wanted to do then why not stay an activist and continue that great work. Why bother with the post of CM? Having an autonomous statehood for Delhi was also a reason that was floated at the end of the victory speech which came as a surprise to many. Again, my point is, that is this the correct way of dealing with the law an order in Delhi? As a CM couldn’t he file a complaint with the higher authorities? In India, you complain to a sub-inspector then if he/she doesn’t do anything that you go higher up and so on. That is not just a bureaucracy but an approach of democratic nations. When the Home Ministry pledged that action will be taken “after” the investigation is completed then why such an uproar? If the action doesn’t take place then make noise in the parliament (after consultation/explanation from all parties involved). Accountability isn’t a card that only applies to general public or is limited to some levels of the govt. Everyone is accountable including the CM which is why the Delhi Police is not under his control. I don’t question his intentions for the greater good. I do however question his methods in achieving those goals. The precedence this sets is that anytime one has an issue with the establishment (of which he too is a part of), we take it to the streets? Breaking the law is fine as long as it is for the greater good? Is that the message?
Response to Point 3) Mahatma Gandhi wasn’t a Chief Minister or representing any party while he did all those things you mentioned. INC was more a freedom movement then an official political party until after the Independence. I am not for Kiran Bedi either. Everyone is an opportunist (including your savior Kejriwal). My guess is that he desperately wants the Congress to pull out their support and make him into a martyr so that he can run for the PM post. But, that would only be my guess and time will tell which way this wind blows.
Response to Point 4) Let’s not forget many of them have also now started questioning his “methods” including his close supporters. I wouldn’t be surprised if many citizens of Delhi are rethinking their vote at this very moment (some are vocal and some not so much).
Response to Point 5) I am glad that you are taking this personally. Everyone should. Their future in the hands of this newly formed govt. is at stake, you better take it personally. Now to your point, an illegal raid is that one cannot search anyone’s premises without a proper search warrant. How hard would it have been to get a warrant? Was getting the media coverage easier? If the complaint was lodged months ago as you claim then the CM should have had no issues in getting a search warrant, and even if our process would have been excruciatingly slow by now I would imagine you would have had your warrant. Couldn’t the law minister be more diligent and get the proper procedures in order before launching a campaign. Now fast forward to now. There are more FIR’s lodged against the law minister by foreign nationals claiming that they were harassed. That could have been easily avoided. Again I am not questioning AAP’s intentions; it’s their methods that puzzle me. The minister stormed to the spot and then called the SHO? Shouldn’t this be the other way around? Unless his intention was only to smear the Delhi Police and show their incompetence so that he and his party can further their case for taking control of Delhi Police. I wonder. But that would be ‘hypothetical’ (yet plausible. It’s no secret that they want Delhi Police under CM’s rule).
Now to your hypothetical explanation of the AAP confusion, let’s see. Ok, so I am certain that someone is stealing my car, check. I call the police and report the crime, check. So police decided to actually show up and not brush me off and was no show, check. While the police is there “I” tried to stop the crime rather than waiting for the police to make the move, check. Is the person stealing my car visible to the police and they are still choosing to ignore it? If so, then yes I would be pissed and start cursing the police and get my ‘friends’ to come over and beat the crap out of the thief. But if beating the thief could be an adequate deterrent then why should I bother calling the police? Can’t me and my ‘friends’ handle this theft situation by myself? After all, when the news breaks out who would be against me in my own colony knowing that I was right in doing so. Now the situation changes (according to me) if my car is still parked in my driveway and there is no one around. In other words, someone ‘did’ try to steal it but they are not there anymore and I can’t prove that there was someone stealing my car 10 minutes ago. But I guess the police should be on my side and go on a man-hunt or try to catch the culprit before he/she tries to steal someone else’s car.
Here’s another hypothetical situation for you to consider. Warning it might sound a bit harsh. If someone kills your 4 year old son (God forbid) and you go to the police with photographs and all the evidence you need to convict the murderer, and the police takes months and months maybe even years to catch the criminal or even to start the inquiry, should you now buy a gun and go on a man-hunt yourself and punish those to committed this heinous crime?
In the media I didn’t see anyone from the local community trying to question the police or harass the foreign nationals, but I did see many AAP supporters and volunteers taking the law into their own hands and forcing the women to take drug tests. Should we now start to worry about men with white caps? Can any Tom, Dick and Harry claim to be doing greater good and be a AAP supporter and start policing?
I am glad that there are decent citizens like you who would intervene if someone was getting abused. But why do you condemn the police when they did indeed came and shouted at the couple and gave them a warning on a very serious charge such as Child Abuse? Did either of the two girls file a complaint? My guess is no. You are looking at it as a humanitarian perspective and while I applaud it, I am also trying to see it from the Police’s perspective. And your friend telling you that they must have paid off the cops later on, is that not also ‘hypothetical’? How do you know for sure that it did happen? Now if the couple does it again and one of the girls or both are seriously injured and the police are called, they are mandated to take action against the couple. But if they don’t then perhaps you or your friend should file a complaint against the constables and reach out to Child Care as well. That is how the system works. You decide to punish the couple on your own will only land you in trouble with the law. Technically, these two girls are underage and shouldn’t be working as maids in the first place so what is stopping you from complaining to the child care even now.
Response to Point 6) Alright, interestingly you too want to play the “new” govt. card. How long are we going to do that? Here’s my point, “the long term implications” is something the planners of Delhi (AAP and AK) should have thought of ‘before’ they made these promises. Not only that, they should have communicated those plans for the future. Ever heard of sustainability? How are we to be sustainable without a valid plan for the future? Govt. (CM’s) come and go, it will be Delhi and the people of Delhi who will suffer for years to come for the ill-conceived policies of one Anarchist. For God sake stop saying what other govts. have or have not done. We need to move on from that debate if we are to look into the future.
I am glad you bring in the ‘audit of the water companies’ as a positive achievement of AAP’s portfolio. It indeed is a step in the right direction. AAP should definitely be applauded for this. Now, should I start protesting against the water companies and demand hefty fines or license cancellations until the report is finalized of this audit? My guess is you want to give AAP and the audit some time to complete their work? Right? Benefit of the doubt if you will? Then why is it not ok to give the Delhi Police, the Home Ministry to investigate and then take appropriate action? You can’t pick and choose which constitutional law to uphold which one to break (especially if you are a CM).
Response to Point 7) I don’t know why there is a tradition (as you put it) of ministers paying surprise visits. The Bangalore’s officials you speak off, didn’t make the arrests themselves, they empowered the police to do their jobs. They didn’t ask their volunteers to force drug tests and harass the population. While visiting the area, in order to assess the situation it is the prerogative of any minister and law and order official, they still need to follow the proper process prior to making allegations and performing raids. I am not favoring police; I am asking if perhaps the same goal can be achieved “with” the help of the police and other officials. To smear and alienate police will do nothing more than make them work even less with the CM’s office on matters that needs addressing. What if by some magic they do get to report to the CM’s office, can they build a good working relationship when AAP has spent most of its time in slandering and smearing them in public. Remember these are the same people they would have work closely with if they are to solve the problem of crimes in general. Your assertions are nothing more than assertions without any proofs. When AAP presented the “proof” of police brutality, weren’t the action taken against these cops? So if the police is involved in this racket, present the proof.
Response to Point 8) I guess you are starting to get tired in your comments. Again, two wrongs don’t make a right. If the CM is a breath of fresh air in our stale and pungent politics then he shouldn’t follow Sheila’s example but set new examples. As for CWG scam you speak of, it is interesting that, it was one of the campaign promises by Kejriwal, but then became softer by saying “If someone has a proof against Sheila, bring it to us and we will punish them” (I am paraphrasing). And here I thought that they already had proof which is why they were so harsh on Sheila. Who is scamming who?
Response to Point 9) I am an average citizen. I hope you weren’t looking for more credentials than that. So let’s the debate begin (in the parliament). Haven’t seen those yet. Sure, they know that the rules are not made on streets, but they are demanding the changes to already established rules “on the streets”. So I guess that’s different. Oh, I guess signing confidential papers on the streets is ok. Funny, that they are so quick in signing those papers (lightning fast). I just hope that they are reading them before they sign them. 🙂
Response to Point 10) I hate to break it to you. We are not heading towards French or Egypt or any other type of revolution. At least not in the sense you (or others) understand revolution. We are however heading for the state of confusion where we will be a laughing stock of the world with an ‘anarchist’ Chief Minister at the helm.
Response to Point 11 and closing) At the end I would also like to say thank you for this interesting debate. So let’s agree to disagree. The only thing I would say, when you are an activist (someone like you and me as you pointed out) making mistakes is ok and can be corrected with minimal impact. When you are however a Chief Minister even a tiny mistake can have a ripple effect and impact the state for years to come. I am sorry but if you consider being ‘cautious’ as being doubtful then I guess I am. And I encourage everyone in Delhi to be the same, after all that is our right isn’t it.
Hey Avinash!
Response to your Response to my Point 1) That’s again a very immature to even argue on who called himself what… He called himself an anarchist and you are in that belief that yes coz he called himself so he actually means his struggle is an Anarchy and you are going on debating on that point? + coz of one Dharna, which I agree wasn’t the way to handle this particular incident) we should forget the revolution that he/AAP has come out of. I should have been more clear I guess when I mentioned Bapu here, am comparing the methods not the personalities. AK cant be Mahatma… and the circumstances were obviously different. Would love to know what Mahatma Gandhi would have done dealing with his own people doing exactly what outsiders did (or may be more). Also, if you don’t remember they killed him coz of some of his decisions in the name of patriotism.
Response to your Response to my Point 2) Guess we are on same page here. As you mentioned (“I don’t question his intentions for the greater good”) I too was stressing on the reasons (call it frustration) of AAP caused by how the police has dealt or has been dealing with the situation already knowing whats’ going on. AAP/AK never shy away from accountability, I don’t think so. And why I said you have doubts is coz you are so sure of your reasons why AK/AAP is doing whatever they are.
Response to your Response to my Point 3) Again, we are on same page. I already answered above about AK and Mahatma cant be same, situation in front of Mahatma Gandhi at that point was very different from what we are dealing with now. I too have been telling the same – let’s wait and watch. The difference between your approach and mine is this – You have already declared him an Incapable / Anarchist / Conspirator / Opportunist and then you are just guessing why he is doing what he is. Are you seriously not confused or in doubt? Whereas my point is simple, when they started the struggle it was a blame that they are RSS’s B team. Now they are called Congress’s B team. For God’s sake, they have been fighting for a cause since day one… and alot has changed since then. Am hopeful it’s just a learning phase and AK/AAP will come out of it gaining more faith and support from all of us.
Response to your Response to my Point 4) Isn’t it good that AAP being people’s party has the culture of questioning each other unlike one side where there is a High Command to take calls and the other side where no-one can dare stand in front of a self appointed PM candidate? I again see it as a good sign of a national party in making with ‘people culture’. For sure there will be doubtful heads who will lose faith but there will also be many who will not only stand by but openly support AAP and tell them – its okie to make mistake, that when we learn, just make sure we don’t drift from our goal of Corruption Free India.
Response to your Response to my Point 5) You are asking “How hard would it have been to get a warrant?” Exactly my point. The minister reached there, found a patrolling van on the way, took those police guys with him, after reaching there called the SP. All good till then? There are reports filed (and its not my personal claim, its out there in public and there are videos where local people are showing copies of those complaints with dates). Am just trying to imagine being at that very place, with SP leaving the scene instead of suggesting that nobody goes anywhere while they get a search warrant. – Lets not argue for the sake of it… You agree that the intention was good. There was no intention of smearing Delhi Police… Delhi police came into light for not acting on ground zero where they should have performed their duty.
Response on The Hypothetical Theory argument – I seriously don’t get it what you are trying to say, Read it thrice! How come stealing your car be visible to police at the first place to even look at any of your further arguments? This is clearly arguing for the heck of it. I gave you a simple situation – thief trying to steal your car, you called the police, while they come you have caught the thief, you want to hand him over to police guys and instead what happens is the thief turns back on you saying he was just walking on the road, you picked up a fight and you have beaten him and coz police is here you are making a false allegation. What would be your reaction? Next, police asks you to not only let him go but give you a warning. It’s the same situation AAP folks have faced. The crime and culprits are right there in front of them but instead of making an arrest they leave. To add to that the Foreign national card and false allegations of manhandling and making them give urine samples in public and Human rights.
Dude, you just took this to a different level by crossing the limit of getting personal. You wana judge me, let me help you there. I might just get behind people coming up with such hypothetical situations which involves my family. Anyways, I understand this is just an argument of two people having different viewpoints, so I would just say apologize in the name of brotherhood and sportsmanship coz “God Forbid in brackets” is bullshit.
You saw AAP supporters taking law in their hand and forcing women to take drug test? Show it to me (a youtube video is enough) and I would take back the whole argument and would stand by your side. I loathe moral policing myself and is very reason would never support BJP (Modi) and the sister concerns (VHP/Bajrang Dal/…) ever.
About my action on what happened in my neighborhood. It’s exactly the same situation AAP guys were in, where you know there is something wrong happening, you call police, police finds out that yes the crime has happened (in AAPs case it was happening under the protection of Police) and instead of they calling the Child Care they ask me to do so next time. Lemme ask, why dint they call the child care people right then? And here you are again coz you wana argue and in one hand being glad, calling me a decent citizen, asking me in the end that what is stopping me from complaining to child care? I dint go there to complaint against someone I don’t know. I just knew something wrong is happening. It’s the situation where you don’t know what to do. You try to keep your calm and think. I wanted to go knock at the door and leave guessing if it was domestic violence (as shown in an ad released in public interest to discourage such incidents in your neighbor’s house) and i dint know there were two small girls there. When I couldn’t enter the building, I went ahead and called police… where these Police officials not only found the guilty red handed leave the place by giving him a warning and taking their phone numbers. Now after that you are expecting me to call Child Care… where it was Police Guys who would have done that, coz I dint even know TECHNICALLY what to do, it was these Police guys who told me that this is what should be done. Why couldn’t they just call the Child Care and stay there till the Child Care team comes? Why did they take culprits phone number? To warn him again the next day?
Response to your Response to my Point 6) What do you mean by playing New Govt Card? Isn’t AAP a new party having people with no experience in politics? Isn’t this a new Govt? Aren’t these guys amateur? (doesnt mean they dont know the law, AK very well know what IPC is) Were they planning to come in politics since the whole IAC movement? When nothing came out of IAC, did they buy guns and went behind the culprits? They decided to enter politics, (o yeah a lot of people had problem with that too). They prepared and prepared hard, went full throttle on campaigning in every hook and corner of Delhi while tirelessly getting their manifesto ready and what not… You have written so much without an effort? Do you ever wonder how much effort these people from normal walk of life, would have put in entering politics and winning with such huge margins? Not only flushing out a Govt. ruling the state for more than a decade but also not letting another monster taking over.
On your response to water audit – Again, an argument for the sake of it. They did what they had to… they would have gone for Dharna if they wanted to instead of ordering an audit. So blv me they know what they are doing. And I’v already said that the Dharna for suspension of corrupt officials wasn’t the right thing to do when they could have done more being in Govt. What I always supported are the reasons/cause for which they took a stand.
Response to your Response to my Point 7) You don’t know why is this tradition of Surprise visits exists? I have seen it right form my school days, and being from a defense background have seen this in Indian Army and Indian Air Force as well… and am sure most of the Indians have experience of the same and clearly understand the purpose of it not sure why you would not. It’s not relationship building exercise but a moral correction drive where you weed out the bad. There are folks in Police who are good who appreciate the movement and later if not sooner would join hands… don’t need relationship building course with the corrupt officials from Barkha Dutts/Capt Gopinath’s and anyone else. It was a simple ask, suspend the suspects till the enquiry is over. About what happened the very night – No one performed any raids… They went and called police to make arrests. Talking about the proof which I already mentioned earlier, unless you are asking for and expecting real complaint copies here, there was also sting operation done by a news channel. Police dint do anything. Locals claim (and there are videos on youtube/AAP’s Facebook Page) that its all happening under Police refuge. These are not my personal assertions!
Response to your Response to my Point 8) Who is following whom? That too Shiela Dixit of all? If you wana go by what he said once upon a time then why would you miss what AK also said in the latest interview that I already gave you the link of with Barkha Dutt and do search for similar interview with CNN’s Sardeep Rajdesai. Where he clearly says that the AAP govt. is getting the Anti Corruption team/officers sitting on scam files changed and he himself are reading those files. Now lets get practical here, considering how our law books can be used by corrupts as well. He might have proofs already but now being in govt. he is reading the files and making sure with the proofs in hand + new data his case is stronger to book the scammers. Sounds logical or do you still wana sing the same song some of the media houses are singing showing AK’s past statements (about his oath on kids and what not). Am sure you would chose to ignore all of these logic and that shows your sincerity in this argument).
Response to your Response to my Point 9) They are not demanding the change of rules on streets. Get the point, they are demanding punishment (suspension of corrupt officials) for those who dint do their job. AK never backed down from any debate. He also said let the inquiry be done but suspend the officials before going for an inquiry so that its not an eyewash (that’s called going by the rule) and not taking voters towards anarchy.
Response to your Response to my Point 10) Oh, be my guest in enlightening me! And happy to know that you have faith in your countrymen that we would never head towards French or Egyptian Anarchy. What I understand, not sure about others and definitely not sure about your definition, is that ours will not be a French or an Egyptian revolution, we would have an Indian Revolution in making. IAC itself was an revolution of a kind. And with what AK is doing am sure no nation let alone second largest democracy of the world The United States will not ban a Chief minister to enter in their country on Moral grounds. Modi is live joke of India Shining time.
Closing Statement – I agree, AK and team have to understand what they are now and use the system that they wanted to get in to set it right. Sure if you wana use the word Cautious!
the whole article and responses are so correct,why don’t you make the translation available in hindi in north india and regional languages in other parts so that it reach tha AAM AADMI too! need translators??
Garg, if you can then please help translating. Thank you!
a revolution comes wen the heads are full but stomachs empty…not wen heads are empty n stomachs full nor wen heads are full and stomachs full………..today kejriwal is the carbon replica of the mahatma whom we neede to thrash n trash the british just like we need an honest n sincere rock of gibraltar to thrash the congress and trash corruption
India in its current state doesn’t need any revolution, it needs stability which usually any form of revolution erodes. On other hand bringing nations capital to stand still because of local issue calls for a reality check and can not be termed as revolution.
I have became fan of Avay Shukla.
Me too. Every word of Avay is a pearl of wisdom. Needs wider circulation to have the masses read it. Am putting it on my Facebook page with Avay’s permission I hope.
Very goo d article describes the perspective which has been missing in most of the debates on television.
But still my only problem with the whole protest which happened is that no solution came out of their protest. Police officers were sent to a leave but the main motive I.e to take Delhi police out of central govt’s clutches was never solved nor there was any positive movement in achieving that goal.
some time it’s good to break the rules……
Excellent article Mr. Shukla – pls keep up it. Also Mr. Kejriwal – People are having hope from you for a new bright of India.
We as the AAM people could relate to Mr. Kejriwal and often wondered as to what is wrong with media and the so called experienced knowledgeable people for not sharing his view or why they restrain from understanding his simple and straight forward demands…thanks for these insights Mr.Avay Shukla…the AAM people are in this revolution with Kejriwal..and no amount of media misguiding is going to help their cause of extinguishing this ‘kranti’ from our hearts n souls…we salute AAP for bringing this hope for India!
What is getting clear is that fight against corruption is no mosquito eradication. If almost every body coming into a system is becoming corrupt, then the system is corrupt and needs changing. It is silly to assume that old methods are going to change this system.
“Arvind Kejriwal does not like the workings of democracy,” says The Hindu. But is India and the way it works called democratic? We don’t have what developed democracies have – referendum.
Indian Rupees value has been going down at more than 10-12pct every year since independence. Doesn’t our govt and RBI know this?
But why does Indian Rupee down every year without fail? or rather
Why does currencies of China, Europe, Singapore etc. go up every year?
Market need these currencies to buy things from them, India does not have mentionalble exports. Our main export is man power coming out of our degree mills. While the cost and quality efficiency of products of successful increase every year, the quality of our product – man power – is going down every year with the value of our currency. So who needs Indian rupees. There is no demand and the value keeps going down because we need other currencies.
We don’t see any plans to improve the quality of education or the value of our Rupees.
What a lengthy and futile response Mr. Avinash… I stopped reading after 5-6 lines.. Its clear.. You are either blind follower of the ‘incumbent’ parties… Who don’t want a newcomer to spoil the party..
Or you are one of those illegal beneficiaries of the corrupt system.
I call him a Maverick… From day 1, we knew he would make mistakes.. Even I wanted him not to fall into congress’ 7 day govt. Trap… But he beat us… He formed govt with his small team which set BJP and congress into most uncomfortable position. He is fearless…
Show me a politician who never made mistakes… Show me a politician who never was criticised…
AK and AAP… look promising yet…
Efforts to malign them will be many…
They will learn.. They will go strength to strength.
They will have infiltration by BJP and congressmen… And they will throw out the treachers…
AK made is clear… He is not bothered about his days in govt… As long as he is there, he is going hammer and tongs… I wish him good luck.
Mr. Dhoke, I am sorry if my opinions make you uncomfortable. I may be a bit harsh on a new comer (as you put him) but perhaps you should also be a bit fair and read my entire rant. Where in my entire comment have I mentioned any of the other parties? I am in the ‘undecided’ category. My take on the other parties is as follows. BJP (RSS, VHP, Bajarang Dal, etc) are corrupt to the core and communal in nature, Congress had their chance and are missing a very important person ‘a leader’. So there, hope that clarifies my ‘blind faith’ on the other parties.
I am not a beneficiary in any way. I hail from Ghaziabad (home of your Mr. Kejriwal). I grew up in a middle-class, service class family who has opinions but am afraid to voice them. They go about their business day after day and ‘not get involved’, not because they don’t care, but because they have neither the time nor the luxury.
“Maverick” is the term you use to define AK. Thesaurus defines Maverick as “someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct”. I guess if the “standards” are no longer valid or are causing harm than good then it makes sense to challenge them. However, he took an oath as a CM to abide by those “standards” and decided to forget that oath in 25 days of taking office. Can you really rely on his ‘other’ promises?
He made mistakes? Yes, according to me, his biggest mistake was to take up an administrator post of this highest office in Delhi. He is great as an activist and should have remained in that role. Activist by definition can resort to non-conformity and “dharna” tactics, CM’s cannot. The trap was set by AK himself. He won elections and voters by telling them that he will never join forces with Congress (who he considered corrupt to the core) and then when the time came, he flipped the decision making to the voters with a question “Should he form a government?” After wasting hours in a voting booth, who would have said “No” don’t do it?
Again, you too are using the same rebuttal techniques as the author of this article. “Show me a politician who never made mistakes”. Where does it say that since others made mistakes so should he? After all, didn’t he promise he would be different from all the others?
You wish ‘him’ good luck, I wish the people of Delhi ‘good luck’ and if he does eventually gets the votes he needs to obtain the most powerful seat in the country, then I wish the people of India ‘good luck’. He doesn’t need it (if he screws this up, he can go back to his activist days), we do!
He is one of the leaders who leads from the front. Aam Admi’s voice that he and his party represents should not go by status quo and conventional thinking. As he has rightly said that ministers job is not merely signing files in air conditioned office but to personally go deep into all sorts of evils affecting society and taking corrective action. It is unfortunate he has been misquoted and misunderstood.
We must appreciate his courage of conviction, sincerity of purpose to overhaul the system’s shortcomings for the betterment of society. He is certainly not an anarchist but a social reformer.
Tremendous article. Profound
A highly researched analysis, very authentic and commendable, whereas all the established political parties are like commercial Hindu cinema only concerned about box office, AAP is like art movie whose real aim is only Oscars. Some People hate to belive the ground realities and are afraid of real facts and truth.
BUT ULTIMATELY THE POPULAR URGE AND TRUTH PREVAILS.
Fantastic and extremely detailed point by point rebuttal of all the nonsense that the media has been talking about. Bravo!
The analysis done by shri. Avay Shukla on AAp’s strategy, functioning and theme is absolutely having a depth and full of gravity..it also shows the true picture of India and it’s
so called modern and intellectual society. I am thankful to mr. shukla for sharing his feelings through this blog which really match what is there in my mind also but unable to reproduce the same on paper due to limit of word power.
Liked it immensely. In this game anyone who follows the rules cannot bring justice as the rule
s, along with the deadly combination of media and those holding Victorian values, are designed to create a net around the common man from which he cannot escape.
I have been a staunch believer in the change promised by the AAP approach but perhaps in all these times, for this first time I am finding the ideology of Kejriwal unacceptable to digest. Delhi is the center of controversy and a city that has witnessed many a protests and vigil marches in the last 4 – 5 years, but this dissent is disappointing me as a citizen of Delhi. In my opinion, the debutant political organization immediately needs to resurrect its once sown empathic image and not implode before time.
In an open letter to the CM in charge Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, here I put forward 10 urgent steps that AAP should consider to stop losing their supporters – :
1. Work within the system: AAP was formed so that clean people can enter politics and weed out the ills of political & societal administration. Then why resort to dharnas & protest even after being in power? The people voted you to rise in power and improve the administration run from the office.
2. Make the Law Minister step down: When you can initiate action against a defector in AAP who alleged charges against the CM, then why isn’t any action yet taken on the Law minister who openly appeals to the police officials to break the law and arrest a woman in the wee hours of the night, when constitutional rights does not allow this. How can we accept a law minister flouting the law himself?
3. Ban Mobocracy: Agreed there is slip between the citizens and erstwhile politicos, but new age politics does not warrant giving an extended arm to unequipped citizens and encouraging them to take law in their own hands. Honestly, can you separate an anti social element in a large gathered open protest you organize?
4. Check your methods: In most of the incidents, the intentions of AAP are genuine but the methods adopted to seek their implementation are not. For e.g, addressing the concerns of local citizens to act against insinuating allegations of drug trafficking against foreign nationals is praiseworthy, but any sort of investigation must have been done under the ambit of law. If police refused to practice the law, then pressurise them but not by barging into their duties and forcing a raid at an odd time of the night.
5. Focus on Delhi first: I was indeed delighted to take cognizance that the citizens of the capital have voted in a good number to a year old party promising a different brand of politics from the traditional ones. Having been awarded the charge of capital, you must have focussed all your new found energies on making the capital a dream city in the world. But it was disappointing to learn that within days of taking power in Delhi, AAP started strategizing for national elections. On what merits? Instead you should have aimed to win the confidence of delhites and the citizens of the country by building a successful model of running administration in a megacity like Delhi.
6. Mind the tongue: Aam aadmi never possesses an acid tongue. Then how can you explain the Delhi law minister openly spewing his illicit intentions to spit on the face of a senior opposition leader and wanting to get him lynched by the public. Isn’t that threatening to the realm of society? Or how would you justify the haranguing tone of Kumar Vishwas delivering more cuss words than actions.
7. Meet your manifestos: Please read your manifestos for Delhi daily till the time AAP is in power. And ask any electorate who did or did not vote for the AAP. We do not want a speedy but faulty process of meeting the targets and goals you set for Delhi. Rather, nobody would mind if you take sweet time but deliver effective governance. We do not expect rapes to stop from tomorrow, but yes in the near time a zero tolerance to such crimes is indeed every Samaritan will look forward to. In the longer run, Delhi dreams of hosting the Olympics 1 day, but not to be host to another Arab spring like anarchic revolution in a democracy.
8. Let people do their jobs, you do yours: When you hold a protest, there are thousands of people whose work is obstructed due to traffic snarls, mob taking on main roads, metro train services getting disrupted. In a democracy, you have to give space to citizens who do not conform to your approach of governance (who are well more than 50% as per votes in last elections). Change in legislature and laws have to be fought in Vidhan Sabhas & Lok Sabhas. There is no shortcut to it on the streets.
9. Don’t ruin the democracy: India has the best constitution in the world, and the problem lies in its adherence and implementation. Rather than distorting the laws of democracy, the people would respect if it is respected and its strength is utilized to the core. Anarchy might give temporary arrangements but not permanent solutions
10. Channelize energies: From the day Kejriwal has taken oath as the chief minister, he has been running the office coughing & holding on to his ill health. Despite that his conviction to be out there in the middle of things is appreciative. Imagine if such an infectious energy is channelized in the right directions, in running the secretariat, in ameliorating the administrative loopholes that you campaigned against. The results would be much more fruitful.
Here’s hoping there is realization of the damage being done and perhaps efforts are taken to deserve a chance to revive the dream of living in a crime and corrupt free Delhi.
— The above extract is from my personal blog http://blogonsreespace.blogspot.in/2014/01/signs-of-arab-spring-aap-for-aam-aadmi.html
Excellent article Mr. Shukla.
To Mr. Kejriwal – we are having huge hope on you that you will change this country. Plz think 100 time before sitting in `Dharnas’. We have seen corrupt CPIM in Bengal who ruined this state after ruling for 35 long years. They were also sitting in Dharnas while being in the government.
While we need to uplift the poor to a higher standard & provide them with equal benefits & facilities like the other developed nations do, our agitation must not scare away the investors. Or we will loose development in this country. Bengal scared away investors through CPIM rule for 35 years & now see the poor condition of this state. Strike & Dharnas are already experimented in many ways in many states of India and the results are very much unwelcome.
I think rather than going for strikes or Dharnas, let’s put all our effort & focus, so that AAP can win `lok sabha’ elections of 2014. If not, at least AAP must win in getting a substantial vote percentage so that they can command the government who will run the country from 2014 onwards.
Excellent article. Direct Dil se.The media has let down the Indian people. How I thought that they would be instrumental and pioneer in the Great Indian Dream. My heart is pained but I know that through this miraculous opportunity called AAP we shall definitely create a beautiful India for all of us because AAP is not a party but a revolution which is not a measely spark but has become a raging forest fire which will wipe out the weeds from the forest and fresh and pure life shall spring forth and produce abundance of fruits for the inhabitants of the land.
Teena aharma Binny Gopinth Kiran Bevi Arnav etc r disgruntled moles n delibrately wish to sully the AAP image. Mr Kejriwal keep up the good honest work. These ppl will vsnidh soon. Aam aadami id with u
Take a bow Mr.Avay Shukla.
I am an AAP fan still – just totally lost that respect for Somnath Bharti and that rubs off on AK as the leader who should lead by example.
1. No problems with the Dharna. It has achieved much such as the Lok Pal Bill. It was about who was conducting the Dharna, that was the issue.
2. There is a problem when you espouse high standards. You need to set your own actions at a standard even higher.
And therein lies the problem. That is where the current leadership of AAP failed.
1. They took an solemn oath – ” …in accordance with the Constitution and the law…”. Clearly, they did this in violation of the law. The defence some Mr. Prashant Bhushan made was that they did not agree with the imposition of Sec 144. If the dispute is with the law, please do even swear to it. The oath should have been ” ….in accordance with the parts of the Constitution and the law that we agree to…” Or even better, do take the oath at all and freely conduct the dharnas.
2. The constant accusation is that the politicians interfere with the police. The standard is very high – complaining that the police did not do as a “minister” asked makes no sense. Is the message that an AAP minister is not a politician, somehow different ?
Yes, you can keep arguing these are small issues and there are bigger issues to tackle. But, when you want to make change, the small issues matter.
You can build a strong brick fort on top of a weak rotten wood base – it just will not last long. And that is why these little issues matter – since they weaken the long term advantage that is to be gained.
Impeccably strong statement… With no mincing of words !!!! We need many more likes of the author who can see the reality beyond just the demand for suspension of the three SHOs.
Excellent . . 100% satisfied . Please translate it to Hindi language and circulate it to UP , BIHAR,MP,HP,and to local language of Eastern states . . will help people to live happy life if they support AK.
My vote is for aap
i support only aap
Funny this is. The rules that you say are loaded against him have been made by the founding fathers of this country to save the sovereignty of this country and protect the rights of each of its citizen. Now without understanding and validating the importance of these laws, you very conveniently question them and ask for a change. And change for what – we haven’t heard of any alternate vision from AAP. Just references of ‘dice being loaded against you’ will not do. Talk about hard facts of what is wrong with the laws.
If I look at it, regarding AAP, your attitude is ‘either you are with it or against it’. This is childish to say the least. I may have elected them but I reserve my right to criticize them. You have no business to say that all those who are opposing them are corrupt or in a comfortable status quo. You never said that when they were supporting you.
I think you need to open up your mind a little and think about it more maturely. AAP is looking for people like you who can rally their cry for dharnas at the drop of the hat without offering any idea or road map of what change they are professing. While you will not see it as you are currently blinded by your passion towards one man, trust me, most people don’t want a tahrir square in this country.
Arvind Kejirval may be absent from CM Office for n number of days-nothing happens.Imagine Police going en masse leave as AK incited…. Police protect the city and not ministers.
I am an ex paramilitary officer. When you enjoy new year or holi, we police/forces perform duty of law & order.Believe me, we celebrate holi next day.. Can you imgine holi on a non holi day? Before pointing your finger at Police please note that you sleep bcoz a jawan(BSF/ITBP/SSB) is guarding the borders and a beat constable is night patrolling.
We Police/Security forces live a life on sword.. we do we are damned .If we don’t, then also we are damned. Batla House is still doubted by Kejrival though one Inspector Mohan C Sharma of U’khand died there.. And CRPF/CPO are not picnicing in Kashmir or Chhatisgarh, as Mr Prashant Bhushan seems to suggest
Somnath was playing to galleries… for votes, thats why noone including Mamta are openly criticising brutal rape by 13 men in Bengal on orders of trbal khap bcoz janta(tribals) are with khap,is that the logic? Sufferer?- the Police Supdt. but nothing happens to Khap or politicians.
I urge all khakiwallahs(Police & CPOs) to unite under leader as Ms Kiran bedi, IPS as one voter then ppl like Somnath Bharti wl run behind us 4 support…
Kejriwal is a leader who I believe is a man with a huge conscience . The Gandhi type relevent to today’s world. The essence of style has no malice . We all know what Harish Salve is to the Supreme Court I feel the am Admi does not care about him or Pinky .. What the aam Admi saw were powerful images of a CM who has the guts to call the boogy of the administration and political nexus with the home minister of the country.
The more they will put pressure by registering FIR’s and siteing lapses in procedures the ratings of this AAP party will sky rocket.
Arvind has the mass base based on a conviction on a conviction to deliver his promise. This is only the start of things and I glad he did what he did.
The English channels have eroded their creidubility on this round for shoure . Rahul Kanval was the only one who picked up the mood of the aam Admi on his servey.
The anarchy of arvind is a welcome breath of fresh air. Let’s get serious about changing our style of governance should be the message the BJP Cong and admisistration should take home. The people are watching this movement is in the educated young youth in this country which will lynch the establiment change the constitution . Either you follow the truth of this movement or be responsible for things to come. I am no fan of Kejriwal but I am starting to seing the honesty he brings to the table and that is very powerful .