The writer is a senior correspondent at Tehelka news magazine and can be followed on Twitter @kunalmajumder
Let’s begin by looking at the genesis of both the parties. The AAP was founded with a singular agenda of ending corruption by bringing in the Jan Lokpal Bill, a piece of legislation which has been criticised for being unconstitutional as it gives widespread powers to certain organs of the government. However, supporters of the AAP, mostly from the middle class and the lower middle class, believe it can bring about a change and end corruption in India. From a social movement, it was transformed into a political one with this promise. Even today, after becoming the second-largest party in the Delhi state, Kejriwal says the AAP would not have existed if the Congress and the BJP had adopted the Lok Janpal bill. Kejriwal has promised to make it the first legislation if voted to power.
The PTI was, on the other hand, founded by Imran Khan as an alternative to the existing political set-up. It seems to have no specific agenda except a broad-based one. The PTI is a one man-driven party; in contrast the AAP promoted a wide range of leaders. All these leaders who had absolutely nothing to do with mainstream political parties and had come together with a singular purpose — to end corruption.
The PTI, meanwhile, saw turncourts from other political parties hovering around Imran Khan before the elections. He happily inducted them, gave them electoral tickets and forgot his original supporters who had stood by him for years.
Now, look at Kejriwal; he has power at the cusp of his hand but he refuses to ally with either the BJP or the Congress. All he needs to become the next chief minister of Delhi are eight more MLAs. The Congress has them and is willing to spare but he says ‘no’. He refuses to ally with someone he stood against even though it would give him easy power. On the other hand, Imran Khan didn’t think twice before allying with the Jamaat-e-Islami in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where he considered handing over the all-important education ministry to the right-wing party.
The biggest difference between the PTI and the AAP lies in their ideology. While the AAP is not driven by a particular ideology — Left or Right — it continues to be dominated by left-liberals
In many ways, the AAP is an inward-looking party. It is criticising the problems that exist within the Indian society and polity whereas Imran Khan’s PTI seems to be an extension of Pakistan’s existing political culture of blaming others for the ills of the country and continuing with appeasement of the extreme right.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (54)
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@Spock: no my dear..... kejriwall is more drama-queen than you could think of. dharna protest at the wink of an eye. also calling it off at a wink too. he is too hollow a man to rely on. IK is i think is far better than him.
Imran khan is not an ordinary person. And certainly not an un educated person because he got the early education from aitchison collage from Lahore then after wards he was moved to england where he furthered studied in Royal Grammer collage worcester in England then he acquired higer education from oxford university. And later on he bacame Chancellor of Bradford university
And then after wards he joined cricket and became an unforgettable star and Then soon afterwards he became captain of pakistan cricket team.At this time pakistan cricket team was at 6 position in ranking but then he put Pakistan cricket team in number one ranking in world and also won world cup for pakistan in 1992.In this final match of his carrear he scored about 76 runs and got 3 wikets.Then he retired and then he was put to hall of fame in icc in 2010.And he introduced lengenday players like wasim akram,Waqar younis ,inzamam ul haq ,saeed anwar and shaklain mustaq who flourished in his captaincy.
After his retirement he made cancer hospital for poor people so that they could get free medication from the hospital.And He also made universities for poor people. And he made imran khan foundation where he use to help poor and needy people in Pakistan.And this foundation helped the flood victim people in pakistan. And in mian wali, dera ghazi khan and in dera ismail khan , he planted solar panels in these three cities.
During 1990s he was special representative of sports in UNICEF.And also worked in UN for promoting health and immunisation in srilanka bangladesh ,bhutan ,nepal,thailand and in pakistan While in london he also worked with Lord taverner for cricket charity.
And then he joined his political carear in 1998 and after martial law was proclaimed in pakistan by musharraf all leaders nawaz sharif and benazir bhutto flew away into another countries but imran khan was a person who stood their like real pakistani and raise voice against this dictator.Musharraf also offered him to be Prime minister but Imran khan rejected this offer. And then musharraf arrested him in 2007 due to his campaign against the dictator.
And not only that he also raised the voice against US Drone attacks which is killing innocent people and he pressurized the federal government to take action against it.And then he done a strike in kpk for drones this attempt of imran khan awaked the whole world and UN made a resolution against drones.The super power USA is scared of imran khan because when imran khan blocked the NATO supply and protested against drones,Usa foreign minister came to Pakistan and usa foreign minister was scared and told our government to stop imran khan. And Inspite of the threats that he has got from talibans still he went to south waziristan and done a rally over their against Us Drones. David Rose described Khan as threat to USA and land lords which ruled pakistan for decades
On 13 november 2013 Khan ordered his chief minister to dismiss the ministers of QWP who were involved in corruption and dismissed the alliance with QWP.And he also dismissed yousaf ayub for having fake degree ,this happened first time in the hidtory of Pakistan.
And Khan also publically demanded pakistani appology towards bangaladeshi brothers for attrocity commited in 1971.
In 2010 a film was made on his life called (Captain)
Khan is featured in the University of Oxford's Hall of Fame and has been an honorary fellow of Oxford's Keble College. In 1976 as well as 1980, Khan was awarded The Cricket Society Wetherall Award for being the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket. In 1983, he was also named Wisden Cricketer of the Year In 1983, he received the president’s Pride of Performance Award In 1985, Sussex Cricket Society Player of the Year In 1990, Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year In 1992, Khan was given Pakistan's civil award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz On 8 July 2004, Khan was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Asian Jewel Awards in London, for "acting as a figurehead for many international charities and working passionately and extensively in fund-raising activities." On 7 December 2005, Khan was appointed the fifth Chancellor of the University of Bradford, where he is also a patron of the Born in Bradford research project. On 13 December 2007, Khan received the Humanitarian Award at the Asian Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur for his efforts in setting up the first cancer hospital in Pakistan. On 5 July 2008, he was one of several veteran Asian cricketers presented special silver jubilee awards at the inaugural Asian Cricket Council (ACC) award ceremony in Karachi. In 2009, at International Cricket Council's centennial year celebration, Khan was one of fifty-five cricketers inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. In 2011 he was given the Jinnah Award. On 28 July 2012, Imran Khan was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in recognition of his services for cancer treatment in Pakistan, through the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. In 2012 according to Pew Research Center, seven out of ten Pakistani respondents offered a favourable opinion about Khan. The survey also revealed that Khan enjoys incomparable popularity among youth. He was the Asia Society's Person of the Year 2012. In December 2012, GlobalPost ranked him third in a list of the top nine world leaders who influenced the world the most in 2012, behind Christine Lagarde and Barack Obama while more influential than Hillary Clinton, Kim Jong Un and Aung San Suu Kyi.
And six books was written on life of Great Imran Khan by different prominent writers 1983 : The Autobiography of Imran Khan (Pelham books) 1989: The cricketing skills of Imran khan (Golden press in association with Hamlyn. 1991: The indus journey (chatto & Windus) 1992: All round view (Mandarin) 1993:Warrior race (the journey through tribal lands of phatan (Chatto & Windus) 2011: Pakistan: A personal history ( Bantam Press )
All of these books were written on life of Great Imran Khan. Those people who says imran khan is just a criketer and nothing else they are totally wrong because when chinese PM came to Pakistan he visited Imran Khan first then PM nawaz sharif.
@Imkan Batt: Alas !!
I dont think we can compare a newly appeared politician with the likes of great imran khan…who struggled for 17 years against the biggest mafia parties of pakistan..i dont think kejriwal would have stood for 17 years of constant failure…plus imran khan is the founder of only free cancer hospital in the world which everyone thought was not possible…he is the chancellor of bradford univ of UK…he is a graduate of oxford….he is the maker of only private sector univ in a village in pak…which gives 95 percent scholarships and gives degree of bradford univ in pak to poor bright students……and he has formed a corruption free govt in kpk province…also has dismissed 2 ministers on corruption charges which is a unique thing in pakistan…many imran khan haters hate him just because they hate him…thats why most pakistanis hate those who hate imran khan….:-)
I have a lot of respect for Imran Khan as he has done something substantial in starting a cancer hospital before he became politically active. He is also a patriotic man and means well for his country. However, i sometimes wonder if IK is politically naieve. I have heard him claim (in many of the debates with various anchors in Pak) that corruption in pak can be cured in just 3 months! His recent statement that nuclear reactors from both India and Pak in future should be started near the border also speaks of his naievette. Other than some of these faults, i think he is the best bet for Pakistan. His coming to power in Pak will be a good thing for India. He knows India well and India seems to know him and like him.
There is one more difference. AAP leader kejriwal has refused all security for him and his party members so that the same can be used to make Delhi more secure. Few elected leaders today will have the guts to say this.
Excellent and well researched article. Agreed with the writer!
@maha
the moment IK compared his party to AAP it became our business, dont meddle in in our business and we will mind it
sooooo much obsession with Imran Khan!!!! n Indians plz stay away from our politics... mind ur own business...!!
All those who claim that it is a comparison between apples and oranges, need to point that out to Imran Khan and not the author. It was IK in India who compared AAP to PTI. The author is just rebutting the comparison.
@Chulbul Pandey
Pandey ji, you are comparing apples to oranges. Looking inwards has no real significance in Pakistan, where a Superpower has parked itself at its borders for the past decade. A single violation of Indian territory by a US drone would have you screaming out of your guts. We on the other hand have chosen to make believe that our ally bombing us is for an allusive greater good.
The author's lack of research on the genesis of PTI is poor at best: The PTI was founded in Lahore 1996, by a group of individuals who had nothing to with politics. All of them are still part of the party. The underlying theme of this new party was an Anti-Corruption, a first by a mainstream political party in Pakistan. You may not believe this, and it may not matter to you, but the term Azad Adalatain (Free Judiciary) term was coined by Tehreek-e-Insaf. Contrary to popular belief the PTI is an inclusive force not a polarizing divisive one.The history of Islam teaches us that the greater the struggle the greater the reward. IK has said this many a times. Time will prove whether the AAP can accomplish what its set out to in an equally divisive polarized India or whether the "looking outward" politics of PTI will succeed , but as of now its all apples and oranges ...
the pashtuns are great.Imran khan is great,AAP is nothing more than a conventional indian party of old fashioned leaders.PTI is our heart.
@Imran Rashid: How easy it is for you to call AAP an “inward-looking” party when it criticizes other parties while when PTI does the same, you call it “political culture of blaming others”. Can you elaborate how you come to your conclusions?
Imran ji, what I think the author meant was that rather than citing everything as conspiracies by the powers outside of India, AAP looks for causes internally. This is drastically different from the common tendency in local Pakistani politics, I hope you would agree.
Sincerely.
@NDU2: Dude,nobody is getting emotional here!!Just pointing out the folly most pakistanis make.You say that pakistanis are not obsessed with Indian poverty and toilets,which I find quite funny.On news ranging from ISRO,bollywood most pakistanis want to highlight those above facts(evident if you read the comments section)There is no denial about poverty, just as there is ISRO,bollywood,IT.. On the question of broom let me tell you broom is used every where east or west rich or poor.The size,shape may vary but the purpose is no different. The rich in Pakistan may have seen broom only in pictures??possible..but not the case anywhere else..As the question of the effect of broom as a symbol for AAP, it is not because it was appealing to the poor or middle class.It's bcoz of its use and application in day today life of people.Mind you AAP won many seats in rich and affluent locales of Delhi,infact from all regions,all neighbourhoods(rich,poor,middle class ,hindu,muslim,sikh..).Many didnt vote for it eventhough supported it thinking they may be wasting their vote.Let me here point out that there is a general mood in favour of AAP all across India cutting across class,caste,religion,language.Already it has forced the main parties to start correcting their courses.Finally the article is not a comparison of AAP and Imrans party but on Imrans inappropriate claim that AAP is India's PTI.The author specfied the differences between the two.Hope you got my point,thank you.
ET moderator-hope this rebuttal too will be published..
Whilst we can talk about the success of AAP in the elections, I think it is premature to comment at this stage whether they are similar or dissimilar to PTI just yet.
AAP will cause Delhi to go into elections all over again - which is good - but eventually the reality of this party will come into play once they start their governance. Surely, people of Delhi are fed up of BJP or Congress, but if AAP doesn't deliver on all their promises - folks will go back to the old established parties. Two such promises are so ridiculous that they sound as hollow as any other 'established' party. One is free water to people and other is subsidized power - both smack of socialist agendas and everyone knows SOCIALISM and LEFT are the bane of any society. How can any organization whether governmental or private provide free or subsidized utility without bleeding it. Its not sustainable and AAP will fall flat on its face due to these over zealous promises.
At best AAP will help steer 'lokpal' and I will thank them if they at least get that passed as a law. However, till then, its a wait and watch.
@Author,
How easy it is for you to call AAP an "inward-looking" party when it criticizes other parties while when PTI does the same, you call it "political culture of blaming others". Can you elaborate how you come to your conclusions?
@Nikki, Chacko Cherian Calicut and NDU2
Let's not put too much into party symbols especially when you don't know the history behind the selection of election symbol. PTI is a party for justice and they wanted the symbol balance representing justice but that was already taken by another party. So they opted for the next option that would allow the (mostly illiterate) masses to connect to the party come the election day and that was bat. Need I say more?
Indians abusing Pukhtoons, shame on you. Afghans and Pakistanis can see through your words easily.
Imran Khan is a national hero and his party has many great leaders. The thing is Pakistan has many good politicians in many parties, so why shouldn't Imran Khan take those leaders who believe in the best for Pakistan? PTI is a national party with broad support in all provinces.
@Spock:
PTI is an establishment party and has been struggling for 20 years whereas AAP is NOT an establishment party and has achieved much more in 1 year. Paradox anyone? Or a flash in a pan may be?
Again, @Spock:
Are you sure about that? Would you care to comment on the following then? http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-11-26/news/353650071shanti-bhushan-national-executive-parliament
Is that what an Aam Aadmi is in India? Nothing is as black or white as you seem to propose.
Objective analysis! Thanks for sharing. Please don't mind the negative comments from a few pseudo-intellectual trolls.
The author seems to be unaware about PTI and its history. Although I don't know a LOT about AAP, but from what little I've read there seem to be more similarities than differences. As for the points he raised, simple rebuttal to three points he mentioned:
1) PTI's agenda isn't focused on corruption: Perhaps the author needs to go back to 1996 and find out what was PTI's agenda at that time other than anti corruption. In fact, PTI was formed principally due to both mainstream parties and their leaderships being thoroughly corrupt. The PTI's main selling point is a leader who is incorruptible and is donated billions due to his credibility in financial affairs.
2) PTI may have inducted some old politicians, but ended up giving about 80% tickets to new faces, and an unprecedented 25-35% to middle class educated youth. The AAP set their sights short, while the PTI set their sights much higher including to the rural areas, so had to make necessary adjustments. Mind, PTI conducted intra party elections in a region where this isn't really needed or demanded.
3) PTI could have easily gone into alliance with PML-N and been part of the federal government at this time, but refused to compromise and went into elections alone. Post elections, they could have easily joined up with any parties including PPP but refused. Imran Khan could have been the Opposition Leader in the NA if PTI had agreed to cooperate with MQM a Karachi based party, but they refused. PTI never had an issue with an alliance with JI, so I don't see how this is a compromise "for power". Just recently, PTI did away with a party in KP whose ministers were found involved in corruption.
I could go on with some other misleading points in the piece but will stop here. Hope this helps. Regards.
To the Kunal, Sir i agreed that IK did given tickets to old nasty eggs of pak politics and didnot bring the changes what we expected from the roots of the tree and camparing with AAP is only that both parties did challenge the old goose of bothe countries and i do agreed that AAP is much diffrent than than PTI in leadership and its agenda but pakistan is diffrent than india in politics pakistani masses votes on ethanic and reliegous based parties and in india its secular and non secular..... best of luck sir good wishes for Dehli the city of my beloved poet Mirza Ghalib... and berememberd that both countries copied each other and wish they will do in this too...
@tk well said buddy apples are indeed getting compared to oranges in this article. While one country has democracy engrained in it, other is still struggling to find its feet. AK and IK cannot be compared as both of them are serving different constituencies altogether, cultures differ in those regions too. while IK seems to be flirting with conservative rightist AK seems to be anti system. Both have agenda to replace existing system but their solution create more doubts than solving them, perhaps its the time we live in where honest efforts are seen with scepticism.
@Chacko Cherian Calicut: " Pakistanis are not obessed with Indian pverty, tiolet or Indian kitchen. Many Indian dont try to understand and just jump to conclude. Broom is also used in Pakistan,but usually it is considered for poor or common class/people. On the other hand IK's party has BAT which does not reflect the poor or common man. This is the fundamental and major difference between two parties. Re-read this article the author has compared AAP and PTI so dont get emotional . . ET modrator kindly do publish it.
A nice article with added imputes from the commenters.
"handing over the all-important education ministry to the right-wing party" and since when education is an all important ministry in Pakistan
@Mirza: Another major difference is party SYMBOL sir----- AAP's symbol refelecting very poor man of Indian Society. PTI's symbol BAT ..........how many poor people play cricket?
You say there is no similarity between the AAP and the PTI........EXCEPT for being an alternative for existing political parties. In the game of politics that in itself is significant enough and in my view Imran Khan was simply pointing that out. You Sir have twisted that and made it a base for writing quite a pointless article.
thank god someone said that, definitely indian future is with Modi/BJP, and never with any middle class movement like PTI.
@tk: It is Imran Khan who did the comparison at the first place. Author is only replying to him that how wrong his comparison is.
@KAY: So does the PTI. So far it has only blocked the roads against the national policy
People are stuck on left or right wing party. They forgot that there is something called as truth. Stop loving your left or right without any logic and support the truth.
Well written
AAP has not been tested, they have just won the election, have not delivered anything as yet.
@hILARIOUS: you may not agree with IK but please mind your language about pashtuns..and I wonder what are the moderators at ET exactly doing?
@Mubeen: PTI is not a new phenomenon. Its over 2 decades old. There are lot more new parties who have succeeded. Even Q league is newer than PTI
IK only referred to the new phenomena which emerged in general elections of Pak and India
@Imkan batt.... looking at you and others... clearly the world does revolve around Imran Khan. Imran Khan is not 1 in a 180 million person but clearly a 1 in a 1.4 billion person.
@Sohaib Irshad: good for you. We hear you; no free lunch...
That is a pathetic analysis. IK has to work with the political system in Pak not India. AAP can be a reality in India not in Pakistan where the army has ruled for a long time. India has a huge middle class and the poor people are not dependent for work from there local leaders. In Pakistan the MNAs and MPAs always stay in power and keep coming back with different party tickets. If AAP was in Pak, the leader would have vanished in days. So funny how all of you compare apples with oranges. Grow up
Another big difference is AAP is really AAP of working men and women. It is not the party of privileged, whose families live in foreign lands and do not know any local language or customs.AAP leaders are real common hardworking people not those living of other people's money and never have worked for a living in their lives, A truly hard-hitting and truthful Op Ed let us see somebody can reply it point by point!
Who cares? AAP is a political party in India, and PTI is the political party of Pakistan. The differences or even the similarities are irrelevant. Thanks anyway though. . ET show some guts and post this.
tehelka magazine needs introspection first...They can comment later..
Imran khan is a self-centred person , he thinks the whole world revolves around him so don't take his words seriously. He is doing enough blunders in pakistan and now wants to export them to your country india also, be wary of him.
Excellent analysis.
To add to the differences, AAP has achieved something in one year with no big names which PTI couldnt do in 20 years.
AAP is a people's movement where as PTI is one man's movement.
PS. AAP also has no backing of 'establishment'
Biggest difference is the leaders.
AAP leader has guts to contest against the leader of the biggest party in her home constituency and win. Where as Imran khan could never contest against sharif or zardari.
AAP leader is a common man with honest service record, he preaches what he practiced, where as IK had a colorful past and now preaching something else.
Also, AAP is not a dharna party. It is not centered around one man and all the leaders are common men and women from all walks of life.
I'm yet to figure what they stand for. I'm not sure what PTI stand against either.
Imran Khan taught me, people drive the parties not the other way round. He accepted the mistakes. His opinion was based on the way elections were held. He was not comparing the ideologies. Yesterday i saw a post of some guy complaining about sitting with Imran and he shot an whole essay to justify whatever he did. Seriously people, stop connecting everything to Imran Khan! Please ask your government to come on Negotiating table over Siachen. Do something thats beneficial instead of just mumbling over pity issue!
No comparison between these 2 parties and their founders . One is highly educated and know A to Z of constitution and anther only brings shame by statements . One rules over backward and ultraconservative Pasthun tribes , other have mass popularity of educated ones .