As the saying goes, desperate situation calls for desperate measures. However it needs to be noted that such measures should not be suicidal. To get out from a hopeless situation, everyone needs to be cautious enough so that precautionary measures do not land anyone in to further trouble. One should always remember that two wrongs don’t make a right. So wise men suggest that every step that someone takes, be it in distress or otherwise should be a well thought one. Otherwise, things will be more complicated and life will be full of problems.
Unlike the many who follow this set paradigm, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) founder and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal follows his own set of rules. From his style of work, one can easily make out that Kejriwal is not a strong believer of traditional laws and practices. He charts his own course. For example, while he entered politics, he took the path on which no politicians had ever walked in India. Kejriwal promised to make India corruption free thus attracting huge attention from common citizens who are really burdened by it.
Sadly, since coming to power in Delhi with an overwhelming majority in 2015 by winning 67 seats out of 70 in Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal virtually did nothing to make Delhi corruption-free. Rather, corruption charges were levelled against him and his associates on many occasions. Within four years of coming to power Kejriwal has become so unpopular in his own backyard that in the just concluded Lok Sabha general elections, his party could not gat a single seat in Delhi. More worrying is the fact that in three out of seven seats in the national capital, Kejriwal’s party came third, behind Congress, which was virtually wiped out from Delhi’s political map after the emergence of AAP.
After the results were declared, Kejriwal realised that if the present trend continues, his dream of coming back to power in 2020 will never be fulfilled. So to turn the tide in his favour he has come out with an idea of free travel for women in public transport including the Metro Railway. He claimed that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of women in the national capital. What is perplexing is that how will Kejriwal ensure the safety of women by offering them free rides in public transport? How Kejriwal could clubbed these two issues together? Does he mean to say that the various infamous incidents of attacks on women traveller in the national capital in the past could have been averted if there were free rides place at that time?
Clearly, Kejriwal has run out of options. He made enough promises since joining politics; but did not fulfil any of these promises. His tenure as Delhi Chief Minister is marked by various confrontations with the Centre, the Lieutenant Governor and even with his own chief secretary. The officer has filed a written complaint to the police that he was beaten by AAP MLAs and other leaders in the presence of Kejriwal at Delhi Chief Minister’s residence. Kejriwal has now forgotten his promise of a corruption free government. Now, he is harping on full statehood for Delhi; a demand which no central government will concede and it didn’t get much support from the people too. So now, he is trying to be the champion of women. But the question is, will the people believe Kejriwal this time?
