AAP- Anti-corruption or anti-everything?

A woman had this problem of getting a severe headache every time she went to bed. After suffering enough, she finally decided to consult a doctor. This doctor who was very old and well experienced in his field, studied her case and told her that the root cause of her ailment was her unhealthy lifestyle. With a few changes in her lifestyle, in addition to a few medicines, her chronic ailment would be gradually cured in six months' time. The woman was not happy with the old Doctor, as the treatment would take such a long time. Moreover, she was not ready to mend her ways. So, she decided to consult another doctor, this time a very young doctor, with hardly any experience. This young doctor promised an instant cure. The solution was simple. All the woman had to do was to let the doctor chop her head off.

There are situations in life when the solution to a problem happens to be more problematic than the problem itself. This is exactly the current political scenario in India.The impatient woman represents India and corruption is her ailment. Without caring to change our own lifestyles, we tend to always aspire for that Messiah, the 'young-doctor', who can solve the problem instantaneously. What India needs at the moment is not the Messiah, the one who can provide the instant cure that is going to end up killing the system, but the 'experienced-doctor' who can understand the root cause, chalk out an effective plan against the ailment and treat the ailment, not just the symptoms. It was always my intention to keep my blog apolitical. However, considering the immense danger India is headed to if it votes the wrong people to power, I felt the pressing need for a (few) 'political blog-post(s)'.

Arvind Kejriwal has succeeded in converting the massive momentum gathered by the 'India against corruption movement' into commendable success for his party in the Delhi assembly elections. However, with a few days of (mis-) rule in Delhi, it appears that it is not really corruption that is of interest to the AAP, but it is, like that for any other party, "Power". This is understandable for them as party.  What is questionable is the following:

1. As per his own statement, Kejriwal thought that Dharnas were of no avail to bring about the changes he wanted, and that is what drove him into politics. But once elected, he continues to use the same tool, this time carrying out Dharnas in the assembly. Instead of making use of powers he already has, in order to bring about some changes, he protests for powers he does not have. This raises suspicion in my mind as regards his real motives.

2. Kejriwal seems to make scores of allegations against all top notch leaders and creates the image that all other parties are corrupt. Hurling such foul allegations is totally inappropriate for a politician, particularly for a politician who has been promising clean politics. 

3. If one observes the actions of Kejriwal in his so called fight against corruption, it is not difficult for one to notice that Kejriwal's attack mostly stops at the step of  making allegations, or at most fighting for the filing of FIRs as in the particular case of Sheila Dikshit. Fighting corruption is much more than just that. The fact that he is no more interested in the very cases he himself tried to expose, makes me get the feeling that he either does it for the mass publicity, or for blackmailing the parties concerned for political favours.

4. One need not be very educated to see that his promise of reduction in the electricity bills and the free water schemes are mere populist measures, and that a truly far-sighted government would invest in developing the infrastructure instead. I don't see these schemes any different from parties distributing free TVs or free liquor just before the elections. These schemes can only have one motive, i.e., getting votes in an immediate election. 

5. Prior to the elections, the AAP  had clearly promised that they did not want to align with any party, which I totally appreciate considering the fact that every vote for the AAP was a vote against the Congress and BJP. When the people of Delhi did not give them a simple majority, it clearly meant that they did not want to be ruled by the AAP alone. The AAP should have ideally gone for re-elections. But then, they decide to go for a referendum. This is a clear insult to the outcomes of our constitutional procedures and shows that the AAP does not believe in elections. I find it amusing that when they decided to dissolve the government dramatically, they did not resort to any sort of referendum, nor was there even a discussion in that regard. It is clear to me that the AAP has the strategy of selectively making use of its various faces as per its convenience. 

6. The way Somnath Bharti took law into his own hands is a disgrace. But it is not the first time a public servant has done such a thing; so the AAP need not have been blamed for it so long as it expelled him from the government and the party. Shockingly, the chief of AAP not only defends him, but approves of his act. In addition, a lot of allegations and subsequent evidences had surfaced against Somnath Bharti's indulgence in cyber crimes. The AAP totally ignores it. This act is quite opposite of what the AAP expects of other parties when it makes allegations against them, more often without any evidence.

7. The way the AAP wanted to pass the Jan Lokpal bill, it is clear that, he wanted the bill to be NOT passed more than any other parties. I find it surprising that the AAP has been trying to fool people into believing that the responsibility of not passing the bill lies with the opposition parties. 

8. As per Kejriwal's own statements, his party is expecting around 100 seats in the elections and the next govt. shall not be formed without AAP-support. Now considering the fact that the AAP has been making allegations against every other party, it would be interesting to see which party the AAP would align with. Kejriwal's recent statements indicating AAP's shift of focus from 'corruption' to 'communalism' appears to be a precursor to AAPs alignment with the corrupt 'non-communal parties'. I would not be surprised if the AAP would support the  very parties, the polluted blood of whom it thrived on so far. 

9. I give credit to the AAP for voicing the need for Decentralisation of power and for fielding 'clean-candidates'. However, ideas alone are not sufficient. Do we have someone who can give us results? We have seen that the AAP is not even capable of handling a small gathering (Delhi Durbar). I wonder if AAP is even capable of implementing these said promises at the state-level, let alone at the national level.

10. The disassociation of Kejriwal's once-close associates, ex. Anna, Bedi, and some leaders of the AAP, does add some fuel to the constant allegations that Kejriwal dictates his ideas on others. 

and leaving the worst for the end,

11. Kejriwal's himself has admitted that his Kabir foundation has been previously funded by the Ford foundation which is known for its support in civil wars and the subsequent toppling of governments. Moreover, AAP has a very open association with people of Naxal ideology and those who believe in Anti-national policies. This has been more and more apparent from the operations of AAP so far. These, by themselves, are sufficient reasons for me to not even consider voting for AAP. 

If surveys are to trusted, the AAP will find it hard to even achieve double digit figures in the upcoming Loksabha elections. So the question of AAP coming to power is very remote. But the dangers associated with AAP are not restricted to it's coming to Power. Even a sizeable representation of the AAP in the opposition can stall proceedings and lead to chaos. So, it is my hope that India will vote wisely bearing these things in mind.

[Disclaimer: Naturally, the views expressed here are mine, and there is a good chance that I have erred in my assessment. I am not Mr. Anarchist to believe that I am always right!]