New Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. PHOTO: AFP
Arvind Kejriwal, formerly a grassroots campaigner against corruption, declared himself an “anarchist” on Monday as he began a 10-day demonstration to demand police reforms.
He defied police lines and barricades to reach a place near the home ministry in central New Delhi, a high-security zone of grand sandstone buildings that houses the parliament, various ministries and the presidency building.
“We will continue our protest. How can Home Minister (Sushilkumar) Shinde sleep when so many crimes are happening in Delhi? When women are unsafe in the city? We won't negotiate,” Kejriwal told reporters.
Kejriwal was sworn in as chief minister of the city of 17 million on Dec 28 after his new Aam Aadmi Party made sensational gains in elections earlier in the month.
His protest is to demand that control of the New Delhi police force, widely viewed as corrupt and inefficient, is transferred to the state government from the national home ministry.
But after enjoying overwhelmingly positive media coverage as he took on India's two main parties - the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party - there are signs the honeymoon is over.
“Anarchist CM Plunges Delhi Into Chaos,” read the front-page of The Hindu newspaper, while The Economic Times headlined “Kejriwal Reduces Govt to a Chaotic Street Play.”
The 44-year-old chief minister slept overnight on a pavement under a thick blanket, awakening to rains, strong winds and more chilly weather on Tuesday morning.
Police have barricaded off the area around the protest site, meaning the thousands of supporters that AAP is trying to mobilise in support of the protest will face difficulties reaching him.
If the demonstration continues, it risks disrupting the annual Republic Day parade on Sunday when India's military might is displayed along the road leading to the presidency building.
Kejriwal's sit-in caps a difficult week for his party which has said it hopes to surf a national wave of support for his anti-corruption cause by contesting parliamentary elections which are due before May.
Last week, Aam Aadmi politician and Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti was accused of vigilantism after he and his supporters detained four Ugandan women on suspicion they were engaged in prostitution.
“The educated middle class is showing signs of being disillusioned with AAP,” read an editorial in The Times of India.
“Although it isn't overly fond of the police and would like to see a clean-up, the party's populist, confrontationist politics - particularly the actions of its ministers - has struck a discordant note,” it added.
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Economically weak country Pakistan's Chief Ministers have to learn the lesson from economically stronger country India's New Delhi's Chief Minister regarding simplicity and facilitating the people and fulfilling the commitments made during elections' campaign after being elected......
Media vilification of AAP in India is similar to media reaction to PTI in Pakistan. Shows that status quo politicians cannot stand competition, and use their vast resources to malign such threats.
Both congress and bjp stop defiling this man.
People are mislead into believing that he is an anarchist.
It must sound odd for one to know that Delhi Police, unlike other state polices, does not come under the control of the state government, because Delhi is not a fullfledged state.
Kejriwal is only helpless in this situation. If Delhi has to have better administration, police need to be whipped into action. How can he do that if the police are not even in his control.