National president of Swaraj Abhiyan Prof Anand Kumar, a former member of the AAP told The Pioneer in an interview that “in our assessment neither we agree with self congratulation by the AAP as being ‘Bemisaal’ or the other extreme labeling by the BJP and the Congress about ‘EK Saal — Dilli Behaal’”
The AAP Government complets a year in office. How would you assess their performance on a scale of 10IJ
The AAP Government deserves to be given very high grades in terms of their ability to grab media attention for mostly wrong reasons and on the basis of emerging as the most vocal State Government against the Central Government of Narendra Modi. On the basis of their performance, they stand below average because of the promises which they could not fulfil. Their absolute failure in terms of systemic reforms, including complete secrecy in the functioning of Cabinet and unacountability of MlAs, no effort for Swaraj Bill and very bad lokpal Bill, and full statehood for Delhi is another low.
How many promises that they had made were fulfilled in a yearIJ
There is quite a high pitch propaganda about fulfilling the key promises about ‘Paani Maf, Bijali Half’. It is also claimed that there was 100% increase in the allocation for education. In 11 constituencies there are initiatives for Mohalla Sabhas and Citizen local Area Development Fund. Some development everyone does in a Government but the question is whether it is populist or adhoc.
Which was its biggest achievementIJ
I will have to think more to identify their ‘biggest achievement’ except quarrel on many fronts — with party founders, senior DANICS bureaucrats, MCDs, police, l-G, media, Opposition MlAs and new found love for the Bihar CM and the West Bengal CM and their parties.
Which was the biggest failureIJ
Backing out from systemic reforms like Swaraj Bill, Jan lokpal Bill and full statehood to Delhi are three unforgivable failures. They didn’t even pass resolution in the Assembly on the statehood of Delhi. They are only saying we will notbe making excuses but that’s what they are doing.
Did the AAP Government prove to be better than that of former CM Sheila DikshitIJ
It is better than the Sheila Dikshit Government in terms of political strength in the Vidhan Sabha and worse than the previous Government in terms accessibility of the CM, Ministers and the MlAs.
There were a lot of controversies over AAP members getting arrested for all the wrong reasons, what do you make of it. Did Kejriwal deal successfully with themIJ
AAP legislature party is like a team with ticking time bombs. So it should not be surprising that fake and fraud people are being exposed and put behind the bars on a regular interval. It has severely affected the credibility, legitimacy and efficacy of the State Government.
Do you think instead of claiming to work against corruption, they themselves got into corrupt practicesIJ
I have no idea about it except to underline continuity of corruption in ration shops, electricity system and water mafia.
What were the 10 major blunders of AAP GovernmentIJ
The blunders are all over since taking over the reins of Delhi on February 14, 2015 and it will need time and patience to identify the top ten of them.
What is your suggestion for AAP; what can they do to better their performanceIJ
The AAP Government must learn to respect its manifesto, listen to criticism from the Opposition parties, media and masses, and try to be a constitution respecting Government.
Their members seem to be saying anything in the House and outside... don’t you think it’s like some dictatorshipIJ
It is true that the AAP has been converted into an NGO run by a supremo, like many other political parties in power in several States. To call it a dictatorship will overrate their weight and value.