Arvind Kejriwal. PHOTO: AFP
“If you rise fast, you also fall fast” – this was the cryptic observation of a political activist in a chai shop as he watched on Tuesday TV footage of a man reaching up to garland Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal only to deliver a resounding slap on his face.
The leader was quick to direct his anger at the BJP.
“I do not understand why do some people resort to violence for becoming the Prime Minister? If you think by attacking us, we will keep quiet then you are wrong. We will fight this battle till the last breath,” he said in a clear reference to Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi.
Later the former Delhi CM posted to Twitter, “I am just thinking – why am I being repeatedly attacked? Who are the masterminds? What do they want? What do they achieve?”
“Is violence an answer to country’s problems? Let them tell me the place and time. I will come there. Let them beat me as much as they want...but will that solve the problems?”
This is not the first time Kejriwal has been assaulted. In the first incident, a 19-year-old young man in Delhi’s lower middle class Dakshinpuri area struck. Thought to be Kejriwal’s pool of political endorsement, this area is inhabited by auto rickshaw drivers’ tenements. Tuesday’s assault also came from the resident of another such area, Sultanpuri.
Auto rickshaw drivers have been the mainstay of AAP’s support base. They were seduced with the promise of regularisation, or ownership of their vehicles (which typically they have to rent at high rates and run to ensure they earn a daily wage) and rapacious policemen who find them the best avenue for extortion.
However, during its 49-day tenure, the AAP government was unable to do very much for this section of its core supporters. The latest assault is seen as an attack from such a disillusioned supporter.
Kejriwal’s rival Kapil Sibal, telecom minister and candidate from the Chandni Chowk constituency, however, said neither he nor his party supported such tactics and were quick to condemn it.
The BJP said Kejriwal had got just desserts for making false promises.
All eyes are now on the seven constituencies in Delhi and how AAP will fare.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2014.
COMMENTS (8)
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This man is a crook. He came power because of congress misrule.Now he is not against congress but bjp.Congress rule this country for long years with majors scandals and scams but this guy shut his mouth against quen of corruption.He want media attention,that's it. Pls publish ET
@Chacko Cherian Calicut: He isn't my leader, although he may soon become our leader. The Gujarat government has already answered all of Kejriwal's questions (http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/election-2014/narendra-modi-government-s-rebuttal-to-arvind-kejriwal-s-allegations-500333), for which he did not need to travel to Gujarat as email works much faster. Ah, but then there would be no drama, would there? I don't know who is behind the 'violence' but unlike you or Kejriwal, I will not accuse anyone without proof. I see no facts in your comment, and am thus ignoring none. Did you really think that Kejriwal will uncover something new in his 'fact finding mission' to Gujarat when the Congress, NGOs and English language media have been unable to do so in the last 10 years and 3 elections? Kejriwal has exhausted his goodwill in record time and is now only in the news each time he gets slapped, so one wonders who benefits from him getting slapped?
ET where are my comments??
@Chacko Chearian Calicut: And will Kejriwal now apologize for maligning his opponents (as usual, without proof) on twitter immediately after the slap? That would surely be a sign of large-heartedness :). I imagine not - there is no drama in just admitting that one was wrong, and Kejriwal does not waste his time if there is no drama.
Now a days he being neglected by the media after his allegations against them, being biased; even the slap he got gave him a chance to appear in front of camera for a while, trying to present himself as a Gandhian - keeps on telling lies and making false allegations on everyone other than himself.
The gentleman who slapped him was an auto driver who was disillusioned by AAPs lack of delivery during their time in power and their focus on theatrics (it is in the ToI today). Whether you like Modi or hate him, I don't think anyone believes that he is so intellectually-challenged as to offer someone as media hungry as Kejriwal the opportunity to return to the cameras for as small a price as a slap. While one cannot justify this kind of action, Kejriwal has been taking mileage for refusing security - and then he needs to make peace with the consequences.