Transition of Kejriwal into a seasoned pragmatic politician

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal speaking in monsoon session 2015 of Delhi assembly. Photo is inset is of Kejriwal from 2011-12

I have been watching Arvind Kejriwal's politics since the inception of his pet project Aam Aadmi Party. I have seen him struggling, I have seen him fighting, I have seen him taking battle to the opponents homeground, I have felt his emotional breakdown after people didn't choose his crystal clear non-corruptible politics, I have seen him rise again professionally and finally I have seen him compromising to the certain extent with the political reality of India and its people.

Now, he has secured a mandate and heading a majority government in Delhi. But, people often ignore the experiences this guy had gone through his journey from April-May 2014 until the formation of provincial government in Delhi. He probably seen the heart less nation who is not ready to stand with him firmly on anti corruption issue. So, here came a point when the man had to change his ways. He realised the necessity of some compromises needed to be done in politics. In the process some of the guys like Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav who were not willing to diverge even slightly from core issues were sidelined. Meanwhile Delhi govt's advertisement budget is being utilised to promote Kejriwal not just across Delhi but across the major Indian cities via Newspapers ad.

As per the statistics released, till June, 2015 end Kejriwal govt had spent Rs 526 crore which is larger amount than erstwhile Sheila Dixit lead Congress government. Also, one more compulsion in politics is that you fix your party office bearers or volunteers on some govt commissions or authorities. There are around 81 such cases where some posts with healthy emoluments were given to close people, one can cite an example of Delhi Jal Board authority. If you apply strictest rules of integrity and non corrupt behaviour then this behaviour too looks wrong.

Having said all this, one can't deny the fact that slowly but steadily he's fulfilling his promises. From electricity bills, water, expenditure on health, education, marshals for women security to Wifi facility the things are happening smoothly. After fulfilling these promises, Kejriwal has set the stage for one more confrontation with Centre over the Full Statehood to Delhi. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and CPI(M) have come close to anti corruption crusader in the meantime. It is very likely that issue will be raised by CPI(M) and JDU's Sharad Yadav in Rajyasabha in upcoming monsoon session. The thing which JDU and CPI(M) getting in return is the technological, strategic knowledge share by Kejriwal and team which will tell it's future in Bihar elections to be help in September this year.

While Kejriwal is taking on centre and making it a Centre-State issue by creating a perception of attack on cooperative federalism Congress is not able to project opposition to union govt. Yes, Rahul Gandhi had shown some signs of revival but that is no match to expertise of an IITian. If things continue like this it is very likely that we will see a Neo front of AAP, JDU, CPM lead by Mr Kerjriwal going into 2019 battle which is very likely to open the gates of 7 RCR to this man.

The song which is still relevant in 2015

Ever since the 1947 most of Indian politicians have betrayed trust of common man. This song is from a Marathi movie Sinhasan which was released in 1979. Story unfolds with a journalist covering state's opposition and ruling parties. In the end he feels betrayed as both opposition and ruling groups have joined hands for their greed of power while the real issues of unemployment, poverty, discrimination based on caste/class remains unsolved.

Making separatists corrupt by awarding a role in government

I am writing this blog after the recent controversy about Musarrat Alam took place in the state of Jammu Kashmir. Mufti government which is in alliance with Hindu Nationalist BJP has ordered release of alleged separatist Alam. The Supreme Court had asked state govt why they kept Alam in jail without zero charges.

There is a common Indian conscience on the matter that, any separatist no matter how peaceful he/she is should be jailed and there shouldn’t be any talks held with him/her. BJP is being charged by many that they are playing an opportunist in this whole drama. This is because in the past since birth of RSS, JanSangh days these nationalist people have always opposed any concessions to Kashmiri Separatists, they are opposed to Article 370 which provides JK state with special powers cum status. But, it is known to all that in last decade BJP has softened its idealist stand on many of the core issues because they have realized that what they did in past was just a political compulsion. It's not just BJP but Nation has witnessed the dilution of hardline principle by Shivsena too over the topics of Hindutva, Secularism, Valentine’s Day, Women’s rights, Reservation to backward castes. This only proves that once you are in power you shed your extremist stand to make a wider appeal and it is obvious that no one will invest in your state if you can’t give a riot free, liberal environment.

The country should welcome BJP and PM Modi when they are diluting their earlier hard stand for the so called peace and development of Kashmir valley.

Now, let’s come back to question whether Musarrat Alam should have been released or not?

A common Indian opinion as I have pointed out in my article is against release of separatist. But, people in Delhi should not give commentary on JK is my personal opinion for they don’t know the ground realities of Kashmir. Mufti govt is an elected govt and not any dictatorship, so first of all calling Mufti a pro Pakistani CM is uncalled for.

Flag of Kashmir

How do you stop the insurgency? There can be many solutions to it but Punjab and Nagaland are some of the successful experiments by then Rajiv Gandhi government to stop insurgence and bring to mainstream the rebellions. Solution is bringing rebels into politics. Make them a member of government body. In the best case they will strive to make peace with centre and work for development of region, in worst case they will do the corruption and make some money which is not such a bad case when compared to insurgency. At last they will give up on earlier separatist stand.

Let’s repeat the examples of Nagaland & Punjab in Jammu and Kashmir too. Prime Minister Modi is heading in the right direction. Whether you like it or not but the Kashmir problem will soon be resolved and 2 decades later we would be wondering whether there was any problem at all.

Most beautiful first lady of all time

One and only Jackie Kennedy qualifies for this award. Such a gracious and heart warmening lady she was. She had toured India in 1962. India's relations with Unitettyd States remained smooth until her Husband John F Kennedy was assassinated. After which bilateral relations suffered which got smoothed only after Indian economy was liberalised in 1991 by Dr Manmohan Singh.

Jacqueline Kennedy (32) at Taj Mahal posing for a photo during her visit to India (March, 1962)

Plural flavor of Indian Secularism

I have seen many Indian politicians visiting religious places of all the religions in India. In last few decades we have seen that they have been often criticized by culturally right semi-literate people.

I advice them to take out some time and read some history books on Indian culture right from 4000 BC to today. I bet they will come to know about great tradition of plural culture respected by then Samrat Ashoka and Akbar.

Now, let's come back to current year. I think it is not wrong on part of politician when he visits a religious place, but precaution should be taken by him in a diverse country like India. If you are visiting a temple then you should also treat Mosques and Churches with same parameter. Let me put forth some letter conversation between conservative Rajendra Prasad who was president in 1950's and liberal Nehru who was Indian prime minister at that time. Situation is Rajendra babu was invited for inauguration of restored Somnath Temple in Gujarat. 

Nehru wrote to him -

‘I feel that it would be better if you did not preside over this function.’

Rejendra babu in his speech there said -

‘I respect all religions and on occasion visit a church, a mosque, a dargah and a gurdwara.’ 

This should seal the debate. It is not that only Hindu politicians visit Mosques, if you google a little you will find that contemporary J & K CM Omar Abdullah used to visti visit temple in a state where Hindus are in minorities. One can wish to call it tokenism but I want to urge that since this tokenism reassures minority community that their rights would be upheld, I find it any time better than majoritarianism.

Also, there are some elements in India one comes from Hyderabad and another from Gujarat. You will not find them visiting religious places of other religion. I don't want to name them. If you are wise you know them. One last request keep your eyes open to differentiate between Secularism and pseudo-Secularism at the same time do differentiate between Nationalism and Religious Nationalism too.