An AAPtard's point of view

With the election fever at its peak, I guess I would have glimpsed (yes read is not the right word!!) through at least hundreds of blogs expressing hundreds of different opinions on the current political environment prevailing in my beloved country "India". 

Some attribute all this heat, which was never there in the prior elections (at least I know that no one was interested so much in the last one!), to the arrival of a self-proclaimed "Non-Corrupt" party called Aam Aadmi Party. But I feel it's not because of the incoming of AAP but because of the revolution that was started by some and Yes! some out of those some went ahead and created a political party to face the issues (that they claim fighting for) head on.

Also before I go ahead with the my "thoughts which really don't matter", I should confess that I support Aam Aadmi party the most and I feel glad that like me there are hundreds of thousands out there who support AAP more than any other party. 

At the same time I wonder who they were inclined to before AAP came into existence. They must have liked some party better than the others. At least I did and I am not ashamed to say that at that time I felt Modi Sarkaar would be a better Sarkar.

What caused such a transformation in my thoughts? And that's what this stupid scribbling is about!

So the transformation goes like this

• Long time ago --> I think Modi is a good contender for PM post and Modi Sarkaar would be the best sarkaar to take India back on to the development track.
• Not so long ago --> After visiting Gujarat and thinking a little more - I guess Modi Sarkaar is the only available option.
• A little time ago --> I feel Anna & Kejri revolution in parallel to Modi Sarkaar would bring good to India.
• Recent times ago --> Good that Kejriwal formed a political party. With no party supporting their revolution and demands that's the right thing to do.
• Recently --> Even though it was a short stint, the work done by AAP in Delhi is commendable. It's sad that Kejri had to resign. But definitely re-election is a better choice.
• Very Recently --> (after a lot of thinking and then watching "World before her" and then thinking more) Before AAP, Was I right in my inclination towards Modi sarkaar?
• What about RSS and VHP that BJP is linked with? Aren't they kinda extremists? 
• Is Ram Mandir so important for India that they had to put it in their manifesto? 
• Isn't freedom to love and choose is a fundamental right! Then why are they against Gay rights? 
• Let's assume Modi didn't instigate 2002 riots, but does that get him off the hook? Isn't being a CM and taking three days to curb the riots make him responsible? (Oh! yes the violence continued for approximately three weeks)
• Is Gujarat the real model of development? 
• Seriously! Isn't Modi a "feku"?

Now you may feel that I am targeting only Modi and BJP. What about 84 riots? What about recent riots in Muzaffarnagar? What about congress trying to woo Muslims? What about hatred speeches of many third front parties? – Yes! All that make me sad and worried but still I am not that much bothered because - BJP has the highest probability of forming a government. Congress doesn’t stand a chance and third front parties are still regional parties. Also there is no “Wave” in the country for any political leader who was in-charge of a state during the riots.  

Lines below may seem cliche but I continue with the thought that when these thoughts don't really matter then what does it matter if the blog is cliche or not.

While supporters like me continue to support AAP, some are raising fingers and some their eyebrows on what AAP has achieved as a state government and on how AAP is being operated. 

Here are some of the points that are continuously raised against AAP and what I think about them that keeps me from becoming a non-supporter.

1.     Kejriwal ran away from his Responsibilities as a chief Minister! Did he? Janlokpal might be an excuse to resign but I think that was the high time for him to resign and insist for re-election.If not having a clear mandate makes it difficult then having the allies who in realty are against you makes it almost impossible to bring any change. Like Janlokpal, now was the time to table all the big issues and for AAP to continue with that arrangement would mean eating more pepper each day in the assembly!

2.     AAP is a party of anarchists. If Kejriwal becomes a Prime Minister, would he still go on a 'Dharna'? Not sure how will he tackle such issues after becoming a prime minister but I support his move of sitting on Dharna. He sat on dharna for things which were not under State Government's control and central government was not paying any heed. We can argue if the demands for which he sat on dharna were right or not but path taken was absolutely right.

3.     What did AAP achieve in 49 days? They just spent public money on subsidies! Let's talk about it with another layer of points

1.     Electricity Subsidized - So the electricity was subsidized. Cost estimated - 60 Crore. Is it really that big a cost? Guys its public money and public is getting the subsidy. And why we are calculating what it would cost for a year when the decision was to subsidize for 3 months! For a person who earns 10k - 15k per month, wouldn't few hundred bucks in pocket be better than staring some statues!! Oh yeah! Some people were offended because they dont need government's charity. To those guyz, if you dont pay taxes then yes its a charity! So please start paying taxes rather than living off some others money.

2.     Free Water! Another hole in exchequers pocket and wait what about those who don't have meters? Oh! that means the benefit is not reaching the people in need - To that, I believe water is a basic necessity and right that should be availed for free. But that doesn't mean we should be allowed to waste water. Water conservation is the real need of the challenging times we live in. So haven't they hit two birds with one stone? 700 - lt's  enough water for a day to meet your basic needs so you get it free but beware this free water comes with a responsibility to conserve! If you fail to do so and go beyond 700 then you need to pay for everything that you consumed. Coming to the people who don't have meters and really need this free water, Guys run and get a meter! Also for areas where there are no pipelines - that's what AAP needs time for and with full mandate.

3.     How many are arrested with their corruption helplines?? - Why do we need to see the number of people arrested. Wouldn't these helplines prevail a sense of fear in the corrupts? I feel they would. I wouldn't dare to ask for a bribe if I knew that the person in front of me can record the deal and this recording can lead to my arrest. Again the results of such an initiative cannot be measured in such a short time. In short term it's the initiative that matters.

4.     No VIP culture! Ahhh!! What a drama! Now he wants a 5 bedroom duplex. Is this the austerity he was talking about? - Oh really, now a chief minister with a family of 6 members choosing a 5 bedroom duplex (10 rooms in total) is lavish?? Guys let him live like a human being, he plans to use 5 bedrooms for his family and another 5 as CM's office. Isn't that another step towards efficiency? Again it's not a bungalow he chose for but a flat with some extra rooms for which he has a very intelligent idea to use. Alas! we made him quit that idea.

5.     AAP consists of extremists! How can they subscribe to the ideology of referendum in Kashmir - That came up during a debate, where one of the AAP's members told that he thinks a referendum will be a good idea for Kashmir. Later on AAP clarified that they do not subscribe to this ideology. I am sure as a party leading a different state than J&K, that topic never came up in their party’s discussion before Prashant Bhushan made that comment. And that’s why they didn’t have a Party Level ideology on this issue. Also individually, can’t a person have a view on one of his country's problem and that view differs from the lot? He didn’t ask for war or forceful suppression. What he asked for a referendum in a democracy! We may criticize him for his views but are we right in calling him the extremist?

6.     Kejriwal and his party doesn’t hold ground on their own decisions. They have taken so many U turns – Here is the real taste of democracy my friend. Enjoy it!! They represent public, and they should be fluid enough to accommodate the need of time. People criticize them for taking support from Congress. First, they didn’t ask for it. Second, none of the ministers in their 49 days stint were from Congress. They took the support from them, showed what they can do with that support without compromising the integrity of their party and resigned after 49 days to tell us that they need a clear mandate to solve bigger issues.

7.     Why such a hurry to jump into Lok Sabha elections? Why can’t they stick to a state first? – I may agree to this. They may have stuck to state, got a reelection and showed what good governance means. But you know what, thinking about Congress, BJP or the third front where everyone is a communalist in one way or the other and everyone is corrupt, I am so glad that now I don’t have to worry about deciding which is the least of evils.

8.     AAP addressed many other issues during their short stint at state like Nursery admission helpline, Govt. school surveys, Auto permits, audit of power distribution companies etc. And I think all of these decisions were steps towards a better and corruption-free state!!