Citizens of this country have resigned themselves to accepting the present state of indifferent and inefficient governance, so much so that even the simplest kind of transformation looks idealistic. We are ready to trust tainted candidates put up by both the national parties who have nothing new to offer and who, while in the Opposition, never played their role. In the midst of this, we should thank the AAP for daring to dream of change (Dec. 16).
Its moves are more practical in its search for issue-based support without blindly forming a coalition government. Therefore, its cautious approach in government- formation and its innovative 18-point stand are laudable. Everything is fair in democracy. Mr. Kejriwal and his team are very aware of the futility of entering politics of the present kind. After a long time, Indian citizens have been offered a leader and a party worthy of their trust and vote.
Sindhu Prasanna,Bangalore
Both the Congress and the BJP have put the Aam Aadmi Party in a spot of bother by offering unconditional support to form a government. If the AAP accepts their support, large sections of the public who voted for the party on its anti-corruption platform will feel betrayed. On the other hand, if the AAP decides to be in the opposition, there will be many others who will say their stand that the AAP lacks the experience to govern stands vindicated.
The AAP must tread carefully in this maze of games being played by the national parties. Those who truly support it and its corruption- free agenda should be patient.
Divakar Pai M.V.,Kodungallur
There is always a solution to every problem. Practicality is a must in politics. Principles can be maintained even while making compromises. It seems that the AAP has no trust and confidence in its own strength to run the government successfully. It must show that it can govern Delhi.
Mahesh Kumar,New Delhi
Though a fledgling in politics, the AAP has to seize the opportunity and make hay while the sun shines, in the righteous way. After government-formation, it can explore ways to introduce a credible Lokpal Bill. A small step now can possibly become a giant leap in the coming general election.
N. Visveswaran,Chennai
There is much pessimism after the widening rift between Mr. Kejriwal and Anna Hazare, the two leading figures in the anti-corruption movement (Dec. 16) and, separately, over the AAP’s 18-point agenda put forth to the BJP and the Congress. Even though it may seem that the AAP is pushing its luck too hard, it still represents a party that has better values and vision than the two national parties.
Indians need people to clean up the mess we are in, but we judge them too soon to understand their “clean” motives. Compromise is not going to do us any good.
Rallapalli Vineela,Hyderabad
It is amusing to see cynics and sceptics who were waiting for Mr. Kejriwal to cover himself in mud now turning into gratuitous advisers — how can he be so arrogant as to express mistrust of the other great parties and lay “preposterous” conditions for accepting generously offered support? The AAP is an exciting and incredible experiment to get Indian politics out of the rut of corruption. If we cannot encourage and nurture this movement, let us at least desist from offering dampening and destructive counsel. Let us not play into the hands of calculating and self-serving parties which would like nothing better than the foreclosure of this transforming efflorescence.
A.N. Lakshmanan,Bangalore
The AAP appears to be suffering from the protest stage hangover. Rather than realising its model of good governance, it seems to be still in activist mode. After continually blaming the two leading national parties for all the ills of the current political set-up, it needs to wake up to the reality of harmonious coexistence with these very parties.
When the outside support by the Congress is unconditional, the AAP should welcome it as a means to end the deadlock in Delhi rather than using it as an opportunity to impose conditions, many of which are not compatible with the pronounced policies of the Congress and the BJP. As it has set its eyes on 2014, it must use this opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities to govern. The need is to change over from being a good activist to becoming a good politician and administrator.
Vivek Thakur,Moradabad
As a first-time voter, it was the AAP and its policies that got me interested in politics in the first place — to vote for a change. But what I see unfolding is that the new party may now end up being caught between the two parties. Who will take responsibility if the BJP or the Congress withdraws so-called “unconditional” support just after two days of Assembly formation or at the time of the passing of the Lokpal Bill?
Kallol G.,New Delhi
