letters
Disorder In CM House
ON E-MAIL Vijai Pant : This is with reference to Arrogant Aadmi Party , your Cover Story on AAP ( March 12 ). AAP may be thought of as a disruptor by some sections of the media and the opposition . Yes , it is a disruptor of the status quo in Indian politics . The party has succeeded in making a difference to the poor quality of government education and public hospitals in Delhi . However , the complicated administrative structure of Delhi and the AAP ’ s conflict with the Centre have made Kejriwal ’ s job difficult . The resulting frustration has led to his constant runins with the Centre and the bureaucracy . Having to manage among such tensions , the Delhi CM has actually become politically sharper . He knows the pulse of Delhi ’ s voters . It will take more than President ’ s rule to dislodge the party from the mind space of Delhiites .
NEW DELHI Pramod Srivastava : The cover heading Arrogant Aadmi Party could very well have been ‘ Arrogant Arvind Party ’ too . The citizens of Delhi had reposed a lot of faith in AAP , expecting from it corruption-free governance . But , three years down the line , the CM ’ s house is in disorder . The latest alleged physical attack on the chief secretary has only added fuel to the fire . Kejriwal and associates are expected to make things workable bet ween the party and the bureaucracy , but sadly they have always chosen confrontation with all the related agencies vital for effective governance .
ON E-MAIL Nasar Ahmed : This refers to Immovable And Rusted Objects . Despite its flip-flops , AAP is still the only alternative to the two most corrupt parties of India — the Congress and the BJP . They need the support of the people and the media to stand up to these two goliaths of Indian
March 12 , 2018
politics . From what your story indicates , AAP and its leaders will end up as martyrs in the dustbin of history .
HYDERABAD K . R . Srinivasan : The recent episode involving two AAP legislators allegedly manhandling Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash reveals that streak of intolerance that the party always seemed to possess . Such aggressive behaviour by legislators has to be suppressed with an iron hand since it could be a symptom of a larger , more dangerous disease . The long rope given by Kejriwal to his party leaders is the reason behind such acts of high-handedness . Kejriwal ’ s silence is a clear indicator that his party ’ s legislators have done something wrong .
LUCKNOW M . C . Joshi : In the last three years we have seen enough of AAP ’ s ‘ alternative politics ’, which is nothing but the politics of confrontation . I am surprised that Ashis Nandy termed Kejriwal ’ s expulsion of the party ’ s founding stalwarts as his political skill . The party was floated on an anti-corruption platform with the pledge of clean politics and people ’ s participation in the process of governance . But all went wrong when stalwarts like Yogendra Yadav , Prashant Bhushan , Anand Kumar et al were expelled from the party for objecting to “ Kejriwal ’ s autocratic ways ”. Yadav had described it as : “ The kangaroo trials , expulsions , witch-hunts , character assassination , rumour campaigns and emotional theatre to justify such macabre acts …” AAP ’ s conflict with the Centre , the LG and the bureaucrats was often used as an excuse by Kejriwal to not perform promised tasks . The alleged midnight beating of the chief secretary by AAP MLAs in Kejriwal ’ s presence at his residence is perhaps the last straw . Whatever happened within closed doors , it laid bare the bizarre working style of the party . When Delhi ’ s bureaucrats were protesting , Kejriwal went to Madurai to participate in the launch of Kamalahaasan ’ s political party . Nandy says that Kejriwal ’ s appeal is intact . That may be true . No opinion poll has been conducted and presented . Kejriwal still has two years at his disposal — a very long time in politics .
GOA M . N . Bhartiya : The evidence in the public domain so far of the alleged assault on the chief secretary at the Delhi CM ’ s residence is too shaky to stand the test of law . It may not be surprising that once the episode is forgotten , it turns out to be a stunt of lies to somehow knock AAP out of power . It is rather well-known that certain bureaucrats demonstrate ‘ loyalty ’ to politicians in power for post- retirement perks . Unfortunately , perceptions matter more than the truth . one-liner
PUNE Anil S .
It ’ s easy to be the figure of honesty when on the outside , and then you slowly become a CM .
6 OUTLOOK 26 March 2018