AAP Ke Volunteers

Author : Vansh Saluja, New Delhi

Some call them anarchists, some escapists, some opportunists and some maniacs but in true sense these people are the stupid common men wanting to clean their homes- as the famous line from the movie 'A Wednesday' goes. Led by their leader, a frail man wearing a loose checked shirt, the Aam Aadmi Party definitely has something to offer to the disenchanted voters. The volunteers always form the back-bone of an organization, be it a political party or an NGO. And this party has them in plenty. Ranging from vegetable vendors to Chartered Accountants, the party flaunts a strong volunteer force within less than year of its formation.

Who are these volunteers? Who coaxed them to join a political party? The answer lies on the topis they wear. They are the aam aadmi, people who had never imagined in their life that they would be working for a party, not for political power but to bring about a systematic change. "I wasn’t forced by anyone to join AAP, I made my own choice. I joined so that all the good people can come together to put an end to this slavery" says Amit, an active AAP volunteer. Why is that people perceived volunteers and workers from Congress-BJP to be goons and thieves but people from AAP to be 'good'? Why is that people try to avoid a crowd of rowdy party workers of Congress-BJP but try to be a part of a crowd of 'selfless' AAP workers? These assumptions are not without facts. Be it the signature campaigns, cleanliness drives or candlelight vigils organized by AAP, locals have always been willing to join the workers sporting the 'main aam aadmi hoon' topi than the workers of some other party.

A unique feature that separates them from other parties is that they use the national flag which arouses a feeling of nationalism among people. It is a constant reminder of the fact that their loyalty lies with the nation and not with the party. Who wouldn't want to be part of the crowd which waves the national flag than a party flag? The selfless work which they do counters the claim of 'some' who say that they are opportunists or maniacs. When the 5-year old girl was brutally raped in the capital, it was the AAP who went to her rescue not to score cheap political points but because the victim's family contacted them. If it would have been for Congress or BJP, they would have first assessed the political 'benefit' they would get by raising the issue. The very fact that the victim's family contacted the AAP by "looking at a poster stuck on a wall" and the party responding swiftly shows the stark difference between the approachability of the so-called party of 'anarchists' and the party of so-called democrats and secularists.

It does not stop here. There's an instance of 'good work' done by AAP workers almost everyday. Then be it getting an FIR registered for an illiterate or collecting food grains for those affected by Maharashtra drought. The Aam Aadmi Party is doing full justice to what its leader says, "Changing the rules of the game". The conventional parties may not be worrying with this new kind of politics but AAP is surely making them uncomfortable. They have never experienced this kind politics in their long political career. For them it has always been about getting the numbers and making passionate speeches. Be it the AAP leaders or workers, it never seems like they are politicians or are in politics. All with humble dwellings and simple life, they all are the true personification of RK Laxman's 'Common Man'. Although more of an angry common man agitated by the problems it faces. The problems are common to all but raising voice against it is uncommon.

' I've always been skeptical of the politicians but initiatives undertaken by the Aam Aadmi Party pump in some fresh air and a ray of hope that someday India will change, and the change will be brought out by people among us' says Rohan Singh, a Delhi-based student. If I'm allowed to tweak Dushyant Kumar's poem which they often recite- 'sirf hungama khada karna unka maksad nahi, unki koshish hai ki yeh soorat badalni chahiye'. It has boiled down to the fight between good and the bad, which side are you on?

What #AAP has to offer

Introduction

There have been numerous debates in Social Media and elsewhere on what exactly Aam Aadmi Party has to offer to Indians which other political parties have not. I have successfully replied and convinced most; however with time it has become clear that it is better to jot everything down to have one spot to clear any doubts.

Some people think that Aam Aadmi Party is just another political party, or it exists just for the sake of opposing the current establishment. A friend said that AAP exists as a negation to an existing negative. Partially true. Partially false. Here, I would describe in detail why AAP is very very significant to India. 

I would NOT be talking about a strong Lokpal, Right to Reject and Right to Recall here, as it is obvious by now.

Money:

Let us accept first thing first. Political parties are funded heavily by certain corporates and wealthy who want the political parties to work just for them when they come to power. Also, political parties lift money from not so clean places, which they have to return later (usually with heavy interest). The seed money for most political parties is black and after a party comes to power, it has no choice but to do as their investors order it to.

This leads to a huge conflict of interest and huge pressure on political parties to make money - by hook or crook. The party in power is left with no choice but to indulge in corrupt practices to make this money. This trickles down to government offices as well. 

Election funding is the major cause of corruption in India.

However Aam Aadmi Party is going to escape this in a very simple way. It will NOT accept black money. And it will NOT take money from corporate honchos. All the donations above 50,000 will have to come with a PAN card. And all the donations details will necessarily be posted online. A businessman wanted to make a donation in crores to AAP, but didn't want his name to be published online. AAP has declined his offer.  

Although this means lesser fund gets raised, this also certainly means the AAP would not have corrupt investors to answer to when it comes to power.

You can donate online right now at http://donate.aamaadmiparty.org/ and your name will be published within 10 minutes. Even if you donate 1 Rs! Try it!!

 

Candidate Selection:

Ask any Indian on what is the first criteria of any person to be successful in conventional political parties and you would get the answer - Power. It is quite understood that goons and power players rise in politics. It just doesn't matter what their qualification is or what good have they (not) done for the society. Just because he is a local goon and no one dares oppose him, he ends up winning elections. Of course there are few IITians in politics - like Manohar Parrikar or Jairam Naresh, but they are more of an exception than a norm.

Also, tickets are given depending upon the loyalty or closeness to higher leadership. No one cares about the voice of the people that candidate is going to represent. This not only leads to resentment, it also creates a disconnect between the people and the MLAs. The MLA/MP, because he got the ticket due to top management, stays loyal to high command, rather than to the people he is representing. This is not done in a democracy. We need leaders, no sycophants.

The way AAP is going to give tickets is truly unique in India. Anyone can apply for the ticket, provided he has written support from 100 people from the area. This is double checked as well! Then shortlisting is done in a phased manner. This process is ensuring that not only clean people get the tickets, they also are popular in the local constituency. It is a WIN WIN as there is no room left for resentment.

No VIPs/VVIPs

The concept of "Very Important Person" or "Very Very Important Person" is coming from the ages of Kings, when there were Kinds, Queens, Princesses etc. Roads are blocked, jams are created for the sake of a few. The Red Beacons on the Car, etc creates a divide between the people and their representatives. Of course there are few exceptions like Manohar Parrikar who travel economy, but again not a norm. 

All the AAP candidates will have to undertake an oath that they would not live a VIP life after becoming MP/MLA. No red beacons, no huge bunglows, no extra security, no nothing extra. They would continue to live as a common man of India. People who are connected to ground would be loved by others so security risk would be lesser.

No More Government Schemes

Government schemes are the biggest money suckers. As per Rajiv Gandhi himself, 85% of money in government schemes are siphoned off. Apart from losing money, there are other issues. India is a huge country with dialect changing every 50 KMs. Having a pan-India scheme is the easiest way for you to waste money. Something applicable for Nashik won't even apply in Mumbai, forget Chennai!

Instead of these schemes, AAP would be sending the money directly to the RWAs or Gram Sabhas. Now this is where decentralization comes into picture. The local body, compromising of ALL the citizens of the area will now take the decision on how to spend this money. Quite like how modern societies function, and how they spend money collected through maintenance charges.

So the Gram Sabha in Rajasthan will decide to use the money to dig a well, whereas a Gram Sabha near Kosi river in Bihar might decide to build dams to stop floods. Most of these problems will not be even known to the IAS over there, or the Secretary sitting in Delhi, not that it is their fault.

Also, with citizens using the money of their own taxes, and everyone involved in the process of decison making, the chances of corruption would hit zero. Even if 1000 members of Gram Sabha decide to just distribute that money, it would be same as citizens taking their taxes back. Of course if something wrong happens in that place tomorrow, they would not be able to point to the system, as they themselves are the system now.

Trusting Indians

This is actually in the continuation of the last topic. We need a system which trusts and empowers the common man. If we love India, it means we love Indians. That means we have to let the common man of India run the country. With now 'You' deciding 'Your' future, you would be cautious and won't be corrupt. This mechanism is important.

A point to make here. Only the local decisions will be allowed to the local people. There would be many policies which only state and center would be making. Defense and Foreign policies included.

Town Hall Meetings / Jan Sabhas:

Every month/week a Jan Sabha, on the model of Town Hall meets, would be organized by the AAP MLA/MP where all citizens in the area would be invited to discuss local issues.

Binny is an AAP member and he had this Mohalla Sabha. Do watch:

 

The section for Cynics and Doubtfuls

There are certain lies and propaganda being spread about AAP, so I would clear them one by one. 

The allegations against Mayank Gandhi has anyways been cleared by the Internal Lokpal, so I would not go in them, unless you doubt the integrity of an Admiral. But to read the final report. If you still find someone accusing Mayank of corruption, request him to file an FIR.

Kashmir:

The policy of Aam Aadmi Party is exactly what most of the common men of India think - Kashmir IS the Integral part of India. Listen AAP leader Arvind say here explicitly:

Naxalism:

Aam Aadmi Party stands against the Naxalism. Let us not forget that by definition Naxalism is violent. Here is the link to the press release against Naxal attack.

AAP is against Hinduism:

Just this picture is enough to destroy this allegation:

 

AAP is Ultra Left:

1. AAP seeks solutions, and is not a slave of any ideology:

2. Do read the Arvind's address at Wharton here.

3. Plus, Meena Sanyal, Ex Country head of RBS recently joined extended her support to AAP.

 

Foreign Funding of AAP (actually IAC):

1. Kejriwal & NGO received foreign funding from Ford Foundation in 2005 and 2008, not any more, much before when the JLP movement started. From where he is wrong now? Read source
    
2. 
   
3. Delhi HC issues clean chit to Team Anna on funding issues.

Anna doesn't support Aam Aadmi Party:

Please see this and judge yourself!

Jindal funded IAC:

Yes,  Jindal did fund IAC. But not the Jindal from steel industry. Check this clarification from Mayank Gandhi:

IAC had recd donation from Sitaram Jindal of Jindal naturopathy farm, Bangalore. Nothing to do with the Jindals of Coalgate
— Mayank Gandhi (@mayankgandhi04) June 11, 2013

However, the opponents of AAP would stoop down to any level to make a baseless allegation! In case they show the handshake of Arvind Kejriwal and Jindal (in a CNN-IBN award function, in which pic even Rathod, the Olympics silver medalist is present), please ask them about this pic:

What does this Handshake mean?

An Open Letter to TIME Magazine

Dear Sir,

This is with reference to the wonderful initiative that TIME has taken to find out the most influential person of the year. This year, as you published, the process majorly involved two criteria:

1. Votes in an online poll
2. Social Sharing

However, I observed that the final list actually had nothing to do with these criteria. Neither the votes, nor the "Social Sharings" were considered. In fact, even the declared candidate list was not considered. People who were not at all in the declared candidate list ended up featuring as the most influential person of the year. Not only that, people who were given net negative votes, got the crown as well - Jay Z!

I am a supporter of Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man's Party) - AAP, which is an initiative of Arvind Kejriwal and other Indians trying make India better. This party has been facing immense opposition from certain corrupt people in India. Arvind Kejriwal was the architect of the initiative - 'Right to Information', was a key strategist to 2011 anti-corruption movement and has disclosed a consolidated dossier of document exposing the corrupts in the ruling party (1, 2), the principal opposition, the industry, the black money hoarders and the banking sectors. One of them is Mukesh Ambani - one of the richest people in the world. Arvind had disclosed the Swiss bank account numbers of Mr. Mukesh Ambani to the public, after which Mr. Ambani had sent a legal notice to ALL TV channels. This led to a media blackout of AAP in India.

Hence, I was pleasantly surprised when TIME chose Arvind Kejriwal as the only candidate from India as one of the most influential persons of the world. This happened when Arvind was fasting for the fifth day against the illegal hike in rates of electricity in Delhi. Even he wasn't aware that he was listed in your list.

We, supporters of AAP were happy that if not Indian media, at least the international media was recognizing his work, his initiatives and his sacrifices. He has been instrumental in taking the fear out of minds of Indians and also pulling a lot of good people to Politics. That has been his influence on us - Indians!

Later I was surprized to see that when ruling party in India - Congress and principal opposition - BJP, are dominating Twitter in India, when only the hashtags related to Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi trend, the top trend was #Vote4AK in India! Not just me, even India media was taken by surprize and they termed AAP as the 'Dark Horse' of social media. The hashtag - #Vote4AK, was started by Indians so that more and more Indians come to know about the TIME poll and they vote for Arvind Kejriwal. They all wanted him to come on the TIME cover. In fact, in the city of Delhi, this hashtag trended for straight 3 days. Thanks to the huge voting by Indians, Arvind Kejriwal was 2nd in the TIME list and sitting there strong!

However, later there was a change in the TIME poll which shocked me as well as other Indians. The human check by CAPTCHA was removed! This check was kept so that 'bot voting' or 'script voting' does not happen. But as this check was removed, the TIME poll got hacked by hackers supporting certain candidates and script/bot voting started. I and other Indians notified TIME more than a dozens of times on Twitter, we sent emails requesting the human check to be reintroduced, but it didn't happen. Soon, due to bot voting of other candidates, Arvind Keriwal was displaced to 4th position.

This is not the first time you allowed your poll to be manipulated. Last year, Narendra Modi, the elected representative of Gujarat, a state of India, was at the top with more than 2 hundred thousand votes, when hackers started script voting.  Even at that time you ignored the pleas of the common man and allowed the poll to be hijacked.

However, I was pleasantly surprized as #Vote4AK started trending in Delhi again, and again more and more Indians started to vote for Arvind. Although he could not climb back to second position, he sat strongly at position 4. His approval rating dipped from 96% to 91%, but as the poll finished, it climbed up to 91.5%.

Such is the HUGE influence of Arvind on the minds of Indians that Indians fought the bot/script voting to keep the rating of Arvind Kejriwal high! Who can beat that?

A politician to get such high rating with healthy number votes has been unprecedented in any TIME poll. The candidate leader TIME at the end picked - Paul Rand, has mere 15K votes with 69% approval rating. The number of people online in USA is much more than in India and by any standard, Paul has NOT influenced as many people as Arvind has. To my dismay, you have also picked P Chidambram, as an influential politician. In fact even he was not present in the original candidate list.

By removing the most popular politician from your Most Influential list, you have not just hurt the sentiments of more than 1 hundred thousand voters of Arvind, you have in fact back-stabbed them. There was huge anticipation that TIME would be supportive to a man who is fighting for the de-centralization of power in the biggest democracy in the world, who is fighting to bring an anti-corruption system in the second most populous country which can help improve the quality of life of perhaps the largest community of people of world.

I have two simple questions for you:

1. Why was Arvind Kejriwal the only Indian candidate selected in the Most Influential list of 155 people?
2. Even after performing superbly in both Polls and Social Sharing, why was he completely removed from the final Most Influential list.

Unless the people get satisfactory answer to these questions, the public perception would be that the TIME poll has ended up as just another marketing gimmick. People are already feeling cheated, that their emotions were used by the TIME Poll and Social Sharing just to market TIME.

Please do carry on with your 'Most Influential person of the Year' poll next year too, but unless you give a clear explanation to the raised doubts, people would perceive the poll as a farce. The credibility of the TIME is at stake. More than hundred thousand Indians who polled, and even more who observed the poll have raised their eyebrows on you. Some are even saying lobbyist were at work, perhaps at the behest of Mr. Ambani.

BJP's reaction to Arvind's Tweet on Bawana slum fire

As you know, last night (April 12th, 2013), there was a huge fire in Bawana slums in New Delhi. This is the news link. After hearing about this, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted this -

Massive fire in Bawana slum cluster. I appeal to everyone to reach there to help the poor people. Manish and Gopal Rai reaching there.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 12, 2013

However, the priority of BJP people was not the people of the slums. They got busy trolling Arvind. The first one was from the Rati Parker - Ex Anna supporters and now a full fledged Tweeple for BJP:

@arvindkejriwal Kya Khaya?
— rati parker (@ratigirl) April 12, 2013

She is still stuck at the 15 days fast which was supported by 10.50 Lakh Delhi families!

One gentleman, who calls himself  'India First' tweeted this about "Votes First!"

@ratigirl @arvindkejriwal yha par bhi vote bank diktha hai !!!!!!!!
— royal parihar (@india__first) April 12, 2013

Then Rati Ji finds Arvind is speaking the language of Congressis!

@fdi_r @india__first @arvindkejriwal I told you so... Kejriwal speaking Congi language!! #CongKejBhaiBhai
— rati parker (@ratigirl) April 13, 2013

I am really lost. What was the priority of BJP tweeple? Two children died in that fire and they were tweeting about Food and Vote Bank!?

Is that its priority?

Arvind's Wharton Address - Economic Policy Section

Hello Friends,

This is an excerpt from Arvind's Wharton address. It covers the economic policies of Aam Aadmi Party.
 
Now, let me turn to our economic policies. Till 1991, everything was being run by the government. We saw how the government was inefficient and corrupt. In 1991, this argument was used to privatise everything. Since government is corrupt, privatise everything – that was the argument used. In the name of privatization, practically everything was handed over to a few corporates, who are believed to be close to all political parties.
I do not wish to underestimate the achievements made in the last twenty years. But can we overlook the involvement of some of the biggest business houses in most of the recent scams? And in most of these scams, we found that the top political leadership was either directly responsible for a scam or it was in collusion. When the scams surfaced, the government did everything to cover it up.
The example of Delhi Metro shows how efficiently a government agency can handle a project. The mess created by the private water and power distribution companies in Delhi and the innumerable scams unearthed in recent times show how inefficient and corrupt the private sector can be. The reverse is also true. The argument that since the government is corrupt, so lets privatise everything, this argument hasn’t worked. We can no longer side step the issue of governance. If you have good governance, you would get good services, whether they are in private sector or government sector. And if you have a corrupt government, you would get bad services whether it is in government or private sector. We need to create an honest environment for people to do business. Honest business should flourish. And there should be swift, certain and exemplary punishment for those who are corrupt.

The second lesson is equally important. All the policies in the last twenty years were meant to favor big business. Inmost cases, the policies were directed towards killing small business to favor certain big business houses. India is a country of entrepreneurs. Indians are born entrepreneurs. Every farmer is an entrepreneur, a rickshaw puller is an entrepreneur, a hawker, a trader is an entrepreneur. Every woman and a child in a poor family is an entrepreneur. Rather than encourage their spirit of entrepreneurship, rather than increase their incomes through appropriate policies, the governments have sought to snatch away whatever little they had.

I very strongly feel that Government has no business to be in business. I am strongly against government running businesses. Business should be left to the people of India. But government should not be biased in favor of a few big business houses. Every citizen has a right to do business.