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- Published: March 4, 2020 21:04
Arvind Kejriwal government’s nod to prosecute former JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar took everybody by surprise, including its well-wishers and sympathisers. AAP government kept their prosecution on hold for past 4 years as the trial in sedition case can proceed only after consent of state government.
The volte-face by Kejriwal govt on JNU’s Kanhaiya Kumar prosecution has kicked up a storm and triggered war of words between Left and Right. In fact, the left-liberals are the ones, aghast and shocked over state govt’s green signal as they were apparently most vociferous in lauding AAP for its sweeping victory in Delhi assembly elections.
Congress reiterated its charge, ‘AAP is B-team of BJP’ while the Centre welcomed the move as law taking its own course.
JNU student-turned CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar along with Umar Khalid are now set to face the law over seditious slogans raised at the JNU campus in 2016. Till now, the case was on hold, pending go-ahead from Delhi government for trial of the accused in sedition case.
Kejriwal’s U-turn: Opportunism or Pragmatism
One wonders what made Arvind Kejriwal change his mind. A person, whom they defended tooth & nail, used it to train guns at Modi government… suddenly what changed after 4 years. In 2016, AAP leaders were all praise for Kanhaiya and his company but in 2020, it’s altogether a different ball game.
Many call it political opportunism of AAP as he is increasingly being seen not as ‘agitational CM’ but a pragmatic and shrewd politician. Its critics see the green signal as a ‘fixed match’ between Delhi govt and Centre.
In Delhi elections, AAP cleverly sidestepped questions on CAA and NRC, gave tacit support to Shaheen Bagh protests while sprinkled a bit of soft Hindutva in his campaign. It was seen as a gamechanger move and it also yielded returns for the party in elections.
Kejriwal embraced soft Hindtuva and ensured that the message reaches to public. His recital of Hanuman Chalisa, visit to Hanuman temple with family – coupled with ‘ideal governance of free water, free electricity, free pilgrimage to old, free treatment to accident victims won him the vote of majority sections. At least, the party retained its voter base, if not increased it.
Even after ghastly riots in North-East Delhi, Chief Minister’s response was tepid and more of a lip service. In spite of fixing accountability and making amends for the shortcomings, the party gunned for Delhi Police and blamed the Centre for bloody riots. In fact, the party’s protest against Centre didn’t commensurate with the level of destruction and devastation in the city.
It seems Kejriwal has his priorities set. At one side, it blamed the Centre for ghastly violence in the city and failing to curb it while on the other hand, chose to put balms on people’s wounds, announcing compensation and relief package to the injured and displaced. This way, it practically ruled out its accountability and responsibility in calming the inflammatory and incendiary situation in the capital.
What one can gauge from it that Arvind Kejriwal is tactfully dropping the aggressive confrontation attitude and rather choosing to work in tandem with the BJP-led Centre, more of Naveen Patnaik style & not Mamata Banerjee.
In fact, Kejriwal has always been pragmatic about his choices. When BJP critics and liberals like Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav started ‘imposing’ their beliefs and ideologies, the party shut the door on them.
Taking high moral ground
When Kejriwal advocated for double punishment for AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, he took the moral high ground. The sanction for his prosecution came swiftly, hours after ‘incriminating’ videos started surfacing online. The councillor was also suspended from the party the same day, when police lodged an FIR against him.
After facing public anger during the visit to martyred constable Rattan Lal’s house, the Delhi government announced Rs 1 crore package to the slain policeman.
Arvind Kejriwal wants to be seen on the right side of law and not leave any ground for political rivals to accuse him of doublespeak.
The message is clear – Party has its priorities set. Post historic victory in Delhi elections, it has already launched membership drive and looking to spread wings beyond the national capital.
So, rather than indulging in verbal duel & squabbling to score political points, it seeks to propagate the Brand Kejriwal beyond Delhi. Adopting realpolitik is clearly the party’s new mantra.