By: Dr. Mohammad Aleem, Editor-ICN Group
NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal and his team finally won the election, which was fought on very high pitch of false propaganda of nationalism and other contentious issues by his political opponents, especially, the ruling BJP at the center. It shows that the Delhi voters have become quite matured within a short span of time. In May, 2019, it had overwhelmingly supported Narendra Modi and his team in the parliamentary election and helped them in winning all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi convincingly. In fact, the Congress came the second and the ruling AAP had to content itself with the third position. Why had it happened then? At that time, there was no issue of the CAA, NPR and NRC, but other burning issues helped the BJP as the Balakot strike, Pulwama attack and aggressive nationalism. But the BJP very shrewdly avoided pitching on the economic development the second time of its fight on the national level in which it has failed so far miserably. These days, all data goes against the claim of development of the BJP model of governance. The unemployment is all time high in the last 45 years.
Kejriwal finally took the oath today on the promises of development in mainly four to five important areas; education, health, civic infrastructure, transport and environment as he has done before during the second oath ceremony as Delhi’s Chief Minister.
He has, no doubt, earned a respect in the hearts of the people of Delhi by delivering some good works, but it doesn’t mean that he has become a role model without any flaw on the national level. The corruption issue could not be wiped completely from the public life, though, in Delhi Government’s departments, it has reduced considerably. In fact, even Kerjirwal perhaps realizes that this cancer of corruption from the government departments can’t be easily wiped out as it has become ingrained in the lives of people of India as it takes a breath to survive. But nothing is unachievable if one desires so. Kejriwal can do that if he takes a serious pledge about it and the people of India will support him also as it has done in the past during the Anna Hazare Movement, on which success, the AAP rose as a political entity and established itself in the field of politics as a recognized force.
The Kejriwal’s party, AAP should now try to go national and win the confidence of the voters on the development issue on which Narendra Modi has so far failed miserably. It is a good time to harvest that crop which was sown by Narendra Modi, but could not harvest it well.
The BJP should also realize with this result that fake nationalism, hate politics against Muslims and demonizing Pakistan in every domestic issue will not work for them always. Indians, though, a large number are not intellectually sound and fully literate, but know well that only the emotional religion based issues can’t fill their hunger of living a dignified and fulfilled life.
Dr. Mohammad Aleem is an award winning novelist, playwright, script writer and journalist. Currently he hosts a popular program, Desh Keya Sochta Hai? Akhbaron Ke Hawale se on the You Tube Channel, News Nexxt.
