Open Letter to Arvind Kejriwal from an Aam Aadmi
I am writing to you with a heavy heart, and as an aggrieved and a concerned Aam Aadmi (common man). I’ve been closely following the drama enacted in the name of ‘Fight Against Corruption’ since past one year now. This drama, which had Anna Hazare in the lead role, had its own twists and turns at various stages as it should have been. The hero and side actors in this drama, namely Anna Hazare (Hero) Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi (all Side Actors), had been vocal in promising to the Indian people to do everything to cleanse the society of the prevailing corruption and getting corrupt bureaucrats punished by forcing the government to bring in an effective ‘Jan’ Lokpal Bill and making it into a law. But whatever happened during the past one year is there for everybody to see. Now, talks of ‘Jan’ Lokpal Bill has become history and petty politicking has taken over.
Forget about getting the ‘Jan’ Lokpal Bill passed in the Parliament, much to your chagrin you have been completely sidelined by the hero of this failed movement Anna Hazare and barred from using his name and photograph during your next phases of drama in the coming days. Do you know why this illiterate, dehati (village folk) Anna Hazare sidelined the hyperactive, intelligent and urbane Arvind Kejriwal? The answer is quite simple. Anna Hazare suspected your entire activities during the course of the movement and had a gut feeling that you had complete disregard for him, forcibly taken over the entire movement, used him for your own selfish agenda, and virtually ignored and kept him away from major decisions that you took yourself. It was as if Emperor ‘Shahjahan’ (Anna Hazare) had been imprisoned by his own son ‘Aurangzeb’ (Arvind Kejriwal) for the sake of grabbing power. Recently, after getting a rebuke from Anna Hazare you called Anna as a father figure whose photo you will continue to carry in your heart.
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, serious movements like ‘Fight Against Corruption’ are not run on the foundations of arrogance, dictatorial attitude, lumpen behavior and blind animosity against one particular party – Congress Party. Serious movements like the present one are run only after taking all sections of society together, irrespective of religion, caste and creed, since corruption impacts everybody in their day-to-day lives. But, Muslims felt completely alienated from Day 1 when the first protest was held at Jantar Mantar on 5 April 2011. I had also highlighted this ugly aspect of the movement on my website IndianMuslimObserver.com [Please See: Fight Against Corruption: Can Indians Sustain It for Long?] as I observed that communal organizations and parties were acting as bulwark and giving tacit support to your movement. Muslims naturally saw this as a deliberate attempt to keep them aloof from this important movement and later on portray them in bad light as not participating wholeheartedly in this movement.
Stop being Hypocrite!
An important leader of this movement Kiran Bedi already parted ways with you and professed her undying love for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is known in several quarters for its avowed communal views and is largely seen as anti-minority (Read anti-Muslim and anti-Christian). Another leader Prashant Bhushan is known for his anti-national views for supporting the dead and sensitive issue of Plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir. He was even thrashed by a group of nationalists in his Lawyer’s chamber at Supreme Court of India.
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, even your activities are suspect in the eyes of the Indian people. In the initial phase of the movement, you and your team members campaigned vigorously against Congress Party during Hisar by-poll in Haryana. Now, you say that you are against both the mainstream BJP and Congress Party, as they are corrupt and good-for-nothing and should be defeated at all costs in the forthcoming Parliamentary Elections in 2014. But see, how confused and a great hypocrite you are! You have recently announced that you are going to form a political party and fight the first elections in Delhi, where Congress Party is currently in power under the leadership of Sheila Dikshit. Mr. Kejriwal, you have also declared that your party is not going to fight elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, where BJP is in power and is being currently headed by Narendra Modi (of 2002 Gujarat anti-Muslim Riots fame) and Prem Kumar Dhumal respectively. Aren’t you a big hypocrite just like the present-day politicians? Though you may try to befool and cheat people by showing your opposition to both BJP and Congress Party, but your fight is clearly directed against Congress Party and not BJP. After all, whom are you befooling and cheating, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal? Why aren’t you fighting elections against Narendra Modi and Prem Kumar Dhumal? What makes you shy away from putting up candidates against BJP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, and only show your hatred and animosity against Congress Party government in Delhi? You certainly owe an explanation to the Aam Aadmi (common man) for this flip flop and false perception you have created about your persona. Also, in the name of Freedom of Expression, you have started supporting people like Aseem Trivedi, who acted against national interests and made cartoons that denigrated national symbols.
Just see what a former Chief Justice of India had to say about your credentials and those of Kiran Bedi. A few months ago I and my colleagues were sitting at the residence of a former Chief Justice of India, and he said that both you and Kiran Bedi have utterly communal credentials. And, both of you have proved it just right by your current actions.
Where’s the Promise of Different Brand of Politics?
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, you promised the Indian people and your supporters that you are going to launch a political party and create a different brand of politics. But, I am pained to see that even before the launch of your political party you and your chums took to the streets of Delhi over increased electricity tariff issue and started acting as petty politicians. Instead of creating a different brand of politics, you are more concerned with the same stereotype Bijli (Electricity), Sadak (Roads) and Paani (Water) type of politics just like any other street politician. Clearly, this is not the brand of politics we have expected from you. We expect something quite different kind of politics which no party has been able to give the aggrieved Indian people ever since the country’s independence. But, your actions are in quite contrast and hollow. This kind of politics will lead you nowhere, but sheer ignominy at the end.
Aam Aadmi is more Corrupt!
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, do you know that Aam Aadmi is more corrupt than the bureaucrats and politicians? In fact, corruption has all along proved to be a boon for the Aam Aadmi and flourished under his/her tutelage. Whether it’s encroachment of government/public lands, running of small industrial units in residential areas and involving in electricity theft, helping in the establishment of illegal colonies, and much more, just take pains to visit various areas in Delhi and see for yourself, and you’ll get to know what I’m talking about. Dare to ask Aam Aadmi who’s responsible for all this and you’ll get the answer with “Sab Chalta Hai” (Everything works) attitude. The real ‘Fight Against Corruption’ has to begin with the Aam Aadmi. The Aam Aadmi is born corrupt, knows how to bend laws in his/her favor, knows how pay bribes and get away with all the illegal activities, knows how to fix his/her opponents, and is possessed with ‘supernatural’ qualities to make things work in his/her favor. Instead of targeting politicians and bureaucrats, you should first of all work among the Aam Aadmi and cleanse his/her soul and mindset. It is here that the real ‘Fight Against Corruption’ is to be won.
Your goals and priorities are all Wrong!
You have got your goals and priorities all wrong. My sane advice to you is to defer the decision of launching the political party for now and begin your campaign among the Aam Aadmi in earnest and with honest intentions. Instead of collecting alms and donations, you need to first of all deliver on your promises and prove yourself. Try to integrate people of all sections of the society and solidify your presence among them. Shirk your habit of having blind animosity against a particular political party and stop being egoist, dictatorial and hypocrite. Don’t live in a fool’s paradise and wage a strong battle against the scourge of corruption. And, you and your team can surely count on my support always.
I’ll come up with more suggestions on how to work for a real change of peoples’ mindset and government’s attitude. I hope my advice will act as an eye-opener for you, your team and the people of our great nation India.
Best Wishes.
[Danish Ahmad Khan, a Delhi-based Journalist, is Founder-Editor of IndianMuslimObserver.com. He can be contacted at danish_a_khan@outlook.com/indianmuslimobserver@gmail.com or on his Mobile # +91 9990179721]
Related Links:
(1.) OPINION: Fight Against Corruption: Can Indians Sustain It for Long?
(2.) ANALYSIS: 'Communal, Anti-national' Team Anna confused about its priorities, anti-corruption movement targeted only towards Congress Party
(3.) The Muslim Dilemma on Anna Hazare
(4.) ANALYSIS: “‘Coward, Dictatorial, Unpatriotic’ Anna Hazare’s days are over”
(5.) Will Anna Hazare muster courage to criticise Narendra Modi in Gujarat?