Tomar episode shows the party has lost the plot
Instead of crying hoarse about vindictive politics the Union Government is supposedly deploying against the Aam Aadmi Party regime in Delhi, with the police taking the latter's MlA and until days ago the city-State's law Minister, Jitender Singh Tomar, into custody, AAP leaders must contemplate on the shoddy manner they handled the issue from the beginning.
Soon after the fake degree controversy hit Mr Tomar and the Delhi Government and the matter went to the court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should have asked his tainted Minister to put in his papers. Instead, the party and the State Government dug in their heels and defended Mr Tomar, not only drawing widespread criticism on ethical grounds but also allowing their political rivals to exploit the situation. Mr Tomar meanwhile offered only weak excuses in his defence.
Had he then quit until he was cleared of the charge, both he and the AAP Government would have gained at least some moral ground. After all, eventually Mr Tomar had to resign — but only after more damage was done. It is difficult to believe that the Union Government played a proactive role in the arrest of a State’s Minister, despite the cold vibes which exist between Mr Kejriwal's regime and the Centre following the Chief Minister's openly hostile and confrontationist attitude towards the Narendra Modi Government.
As things are turning out, it is not just an issue of a fake degree that Mr Tomar is said to be in possession of. Delhi Police is investigating the more serious angle of the former Minister being part of a larger racket of the issuance of forged degrees outside Delhi as well. If this dimension has a basis — the police would not be inquiring into it had it not had prima facie material — then Mr Tomar's troubles must only be beginning. Now, the Aam Aadmi Party must let the law take its course. The Tomar episode raises a big question mark on the manner in which the party had selected its candidates for the Assembly election. The AAP has prided itself on doing extensive due diligence.
Either the process was flawed or that short-cuts were resorted to for short-term electoral gains. This incident lends credence to the allegations that the party’s founder-members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav — recently unceremoniously booted out of the party — had levelled against the selection process.
The Kejriwal Government's combative behaviour is doing no good to either itself or the State. Whether it is the Tomar issue or the transfers and postings of bureaucrats and police officials, the Chief Minister apparently believes that he can use the confrontation with the Centre to further his political interests; the State's developmental issues can take a backseat. He and his minions have been busy crafting an image of victimhood. People who had voted the AAP to power with an overwhelming majority care little for such shenanigans. They want governance, and Mr Kejriwal hasn't provided it to them.