New Delhi:
From India Against Corruption (IAC) to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal and his bandwagon have come a long way. From protests against Centre over Lokpal, to forming government in Delhi, to controversial resignation in 2014 and coming back to power with overwhelming response in the national capital, AAP has seen it all.
However, today it has become a party of conspiracy, manipulation, maneuvering and intrigue. The recent high-decibel political drama at the National Council (NC) meeting was one such example.
Widening the rift in party, AAP on Sunday also removed party’s internal Lokpal Admiral L Ramdas and Prashant Bhushan as the chief of National Disciplinary Committee.
This comes a day after Prashant Bhushan and senior leader Yogendra Yadav were expelled from the National Council (NC).
Witnessing the internal crisis and hullabaloo, observers feel that Kejriwal has started playing into the hands of his coterie, ‘maybe he is just not the villain but his group of loyalists are’.
However, one thing is for certain- AAP is failing to understand the fundamentals. The current crisis in AAP is not about expelling Bhushan and Yadav instead it is about ‘The idea of AAP’.
The people of Delhi and party’s volunteers are feeling cheated by their leaders’ immaturity, arrogance and complete lack of accountability.
It is a heart-breaking cry of an average person who rested their credibility into the party’s ideas and leadership; but where is it heading.
AAP was formed with an idea to clean politics, however, today it is a juncture where values and principles are compromised, volunteer voice silenced, dissent voice muted, national platforms being misused.
But, why is Kejriwal silent? A video released by the party on Sunday showed Kejriwal accusing dissidents Yadav and Bhushan of conspiring against the party. But, is that enough? His silence shouts approval of all these dirty political games. His silence shows that he is leading the way to traditional politics. It also gives us an insight about AAP's future modus operandi.
Why do you forget that you were voted to power to bring change! Don’t make this crisis into a fight between individuals when it is clearly not. Respect the mandate, don’t run after short term goals, instead fight for the integrity in party. Don’t become a bunch of fools who start doing everything to fulfil their own political mileages.
So Mr. Kejriwal beware; don’t act petty during this historic era of hope and kill the dreams of youth, else the history and people of Delhi will never forgive you!
