Sir — This refers to the article, “Modern Don Quixote minus the innocence” (April 23) by Rajesh Singh. The Aam Aadmi Party is selling the same old socialist snake oil in a new bottle. In 1989, there had been a similar euphoria, which ended in tears and suicides, for anti-corruption socialist crusader VP Singh.
In the 1970s, Gujarat also had AAP-type euphoric support for the anti-corruption socialist movement, Navnirman. It had resulted in the collapse of the Congress Government in the State, but also in more corruption and price rise. India’s 40-year long tryst with Fabian socialism started in 1947, amid great expectation and the grand promise to “wipe every tear from every eye”. But it ended in 1991, with more tears, more corruption and bankruptcy. It appears that the excitement over the AAP’s rise too will be short-lived.