After swearing-in of AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) into Delhi government, both the MSM (main stream media) and social media has been abuzz everyday with some or other news of the following kinds:
1. What AAP has promised to Delhi citizens and if they are indeed delivering on it or not.
2. Politicians from other parties accusing them of indulging in fiscally irresponsible promises to citizens.
3. Some experts and bureaucrats saying they won’t succeed in carrying out their poll promises citing reasons of being infeasible, irresponsible, "biting more than they can chew" and so on.
4. And some people giving examples of how another party’s CM has been doing the same things as new Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for many years already!
I will come to above issues later.
What I find heartening are the following things which did not happen in history of Delhi for last few decades or few hundred years depending on how strictly one looks at these:
1. High functionaries of government basically chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other ministers too preferring to travel in public transport, i.e., Delhi Metro for the swearing-in ceremony.
2. Refusal to use a supposedly harmless symbol of state power, the read-beaconed-car (usually a white Ambassador model in earlier times) by new CM which was instantly imitated by bureaucrats too. I consider the latter to be a possible real trend-setter in future for Delhi’s state power culture rather than only CM rescinding use of the red beacon car which many may try to downplay as symbolic. If and when it does lead to a culture change, it won’t be symbolic anymore.
3. Now people are thinking if something can be done in Delhi, why can’t it be done in rest of India either!
The AAP government has been making waves by creating high expectations e.g., asking time for 10 days to deliver, foregoing the usual round number of 100 days; and then seemingly delivering on promises like free water of 670 litres per day, and halving of electricity rates up to 200 units on almost a daily basis.
When was the last time one expected a newly sworn government asking for only 10 days time to deliver on results! Doesn’t happen people, this is India, the country of "we are like that only", land of elephants—slow moving and steady creatures. This basically shows that the AAP folks don’t want to act and really don’t act like usual slow moving government machinery India has become notorious for.
It is difficult and dangerous to label and dismiss them as technocrats, managers, administrators, opportunists just yet since they may be all of these and yet defy any usual political classification.
Now some of the charges against AAP have been somewhat unfair, and some of them a little silly if not ridiculous. I would like to give my opinion on the same issues.
Charge on AAP government: They said they will not support or take support from either Congress and BJP to form government but backtracked on that.
Rebuttal: And what would be the alternative? Again force Delhi voters in one more election spending 200 Crores when they already have come out in record 65% + numbers to cast their vote! The most important point is that they went back to people to ask their opinion whether they should form a government, and overwhelmingly people wanted them to form government. That referendum by the people is infinitely more important than a statement which someone in AAP may have made at the heat of the moment. It is also a fresh breath into Indian politics where people’s voice was heard about who should form government rather than being left at the mercy of post-poll alliances and deal-making by parties.
Charge on AAP government: That the free water up to 670 litres per day is a gimmick, that the subsidy burden for this free water will not be feasible, that people will tamper meters to make the monthly usage below 20 kilo-litre so they don’t have to pay at all.
Rebuttal: Public should think that if giving free laptops, free colour-TVs etc. in some Indian states are not considered fiscal burdens and not imprudent political promise, then why giving free water up to a limit is such an unholy and not to be done thing? To the credit of AAP, their representatives on TV seem to be knowledgable and have done their homework about what it will entail in future rather than giving only emotional statements. They are willing to get started and do on course correction as situations evolve. So they may not be seasoned politicians but it seems they have good managerial and administrative inputs and so the naysayers and the Delhi bureaucrats should not feel too complacent that AAP folks won’t be able to deliver or will fail miserably.
To the point that people will tamper water meters, I think this is the right time for Indians to decide whether they want to choose being corrupt in their own personal lives and keep demanding about a corruption-free government. And this point shows the mentality of decision-makers that they judge that Indians will always be corrupt whereas the real reason is that most Indians never have been able to trust those in government and in power and that’s the reason for this culture of mistrust and everyone-for-himself mindset. If a lot of people do tampering with water meters, then the scheme may indeed falter and so people should decide whether they want to live like respectable citizens or again vote to get another mai-baap sarkaar (government) to whom they can keep petitioning for freebies. And in that case the government will also be justified in modifying the scheme so it is up to citizens to decide whether they want a participatory form of government or a mai-baap government which can throw carrots or show you the stick!
Charge on AAP government: That 50% population of Delhi does not have tap water so they will not benefit from this free water.
Rebuttal: So maybe giving tap water to all Delhi residents can be the next agenda but the merit of this scheme cannot be argued against by this kind of logic.
Charge on AAP government: That the water and electricity subsidies may not be sustainable and so on.
Rebuttal: It is reported that huge amounts of water and electricity are wasted, or pilfered etc. so there is scope for efficiency and proper charging once those are put in place. Basically, those who are stealing are able to do it by bribing the ‘right’ people and once this stealing of resources is minimized and expenses levied, it can lead to ongoing revenues which are currently being lost completely.
To AAP folks’ credit, they have responded rationally on TV debates and don’t claim to know all the answers but are willing to work the things out. That is a quality missing so far in political culture in India, where the debates are either about shouting others down, defending yourself by attacking others, making emotional arguments to appeal to your constituency rather than taking people together; and the like.
Finally, here are my thoughts about AAP workings so far:
1. Their leaders are actually walking the talk and working and behaving like aam aadmi (common man) in day to day life. Taking public transport, renting a flat for accommodation rather than government bungalow, shunning the usual security are cases in point.
2. Their people seem to know about the problems and their proposed solutions whereas the detractors are basically making political statements which are kind of routine. I mean ex-president of BJP Nitin Gadkari even alleged that the swearing-in of AAP was possible because of deal made by an industrialist with Congress party. Wrong! The Delhi people overwhelmingly wanted AAP to form government in their feedback given to the party in it’s jan sabhas (public meetings).
3. Some of their statements may attract criticism like "honest bureaucrats should approach us”. Surely a good technical point, but let’s give them some credit for being communicative and open with citizens. AAP folks are not acting to the script of a usual mai-baap style of governance, which is the really rankling to many politicians who are unable to understand why AAP is growing in popularity day by day when they are just new kids on the block.
Dear Vivek
It is truely inspiring and and motivational to read your blog. I must admit and compliment you, for your excellent flair of writing and choice of thought process. You are a very good writer !! Please write some more about the consumer court issues and panasonic issue. It may come handy in the future, if not now.
We also share the same viewpoint as you on the Aam Aadmi Party.
Kind regards
Anil Deveshwar
Fantastic. Specially loved this —
” Doesn’t happen people, this is India, the country of “we are like that only”, land of elephants—slow moving and steady creatures.” 😀 😀
Fantastic. Specially loved this —
” Doesn’t happen people, this is India, the country of “we are like that only”, land of elephants—slow moving and steady creatures.” 😀 😀