A host of political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, have backed President Pranab Mukherjee’s remark that “populist anarchy cannot substitute governance.” Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was the obvious target of the President’s comment, has welcomed the debate on the issue.
“The President’s speech was good. I support his view that the country needs a stable Government. I also welcome the President’s remarks on the issue of anarchist politics,” BJP president Rajnath Singh said.
“Elections do not give any person the licence to flirt with illusions. Those who seek the trust of voters must promise only what is possible. The Government is not a charity shop. Populist anarchy cannot be a substitute for governance. False promises lead to disillusionment, which gives birth to rage, and that rage has one legitimate target: those in power,” the President had said in his speech on the eve of Republic Day on Saturday.
Former Delhi Congress chief JP Aggarwal said, “Pranab Mukherjee has made a correct statement and this applies to the AAP. They made big promises and they failed to deliver. Why didn’t they think before making those promises,” he questioned.
Praising the President for his remarks, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar said that all the politicians should take a lesson from him. “I think the President is right in what he said and all of us who are in politics should take a lesson or two from him,” he said. Janata Dal (United), too, voiced its support to the ‘anarchy’ remark. “I welcome Pranab Mukherjee’s statement. Parties are making populist and impossible promises to the people just to grab votes. Democracy gets undermined because of these antics,” party leader KC Tyagi said.
Unfazed by the President’s critical comments, Kejriwal said the Republic Day speech of the President had generated a debate whether staging a protest by a Chief Minister was Constitutional or unconstitutional. “I am happy that this is being debated now,” said Kejriwal who was cornered by journalists and other invitees in Mughal Garden where he was attending his first ‘At Home’ function after taking over as the Chief Minister.
Kejriwal said it was the President’s or the Centre’s point of view but “I am happy that at least a debate has kicked off on whether a dharna by a CM leads to a constitutional crisis or not.” “Please look at the newspapers. Some are in favour and some are critical. A healthy debate is always very good in a democracy,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal also re-tweeted a post by noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. “Dear Mr President. Activism and anarchy are not the same. Anarchy was 1984 when mobs went on rampage killing Sikhs. Provoked by State and police...,” Kapur tweeted.