As political drama unfolded all day on Tuesday after the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and former Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar, back in his constituency Tri Nagar groups of people gathered at teas stall, parks and on the streets to discuss the day’s events.
Those who had voted for Mr. Tomar are upset that he had claimed he had a degree in law and many were angry with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjiwal for not removing him from the post when the issue first cropped up.
Ram Kishan Nagi, who has been living in the area for over 60 years, opined that although law will now take its course to determine the validity of the former Minister’s degree certificate, he feels the matter should have been resolved much earlier.
“The Chief Minister says he will take decisions in consultation with the aam aadmi. When this issue came up the first time, why did he not consult the people who voted him to power for their opinion on the issue. We had high hopes from the style of functioning of this government, but it seems they are just like the previous governments.”
Though some like businessman Ashish Gandhi are happy with Mr. Tomar’s work in the constituency, others said he had disappeared after elections like every other politician that comes asking for votes.
Paramjeet Singh said: “It does not matter if he has only studied till Class V or XII, but why claim to be an advocate, especially when he represents a party that was born to replace politicians who lie to their constituency. This one wrong will wipe out any good that he has done.”
Resident Veena Verma said this incident proved that there are only two main parties — the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. She added that the AAP, which seemed like a ray of hope initially, is no different as the true colours of its leaders are showing now.
Many felt Mr. Tomar was the Chief Minister’s stooge and came to power only on the promises made by the AAP during the election.
“Now that this controversy has broken out, we have lost trust in the government for putting up a candidate who did not come clean in the beginning,” said restaurant owner Amit Garg.
Businessman Mukesh Kumar added: “Anybody can woo the public by giving electricity and water subsidies. What has the government done to earn the money to justify those subsidies? The only hope we had was of clean politicians who will voice the problems of the aam aadmi. Today, that hope has been shattered.”
