There are things that Arvind Kejriwal can do because they are within his Government’s jurisdiction
Why does Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blame everyone else other than himself for all the ills in DelhiIJ Since the time he took over, over whatever incident happens, he finds a scapegoat and keeps himself aloof. The latest is the horrendous rape of two children in the capital. He should remember what he said after the Nirbhaya rape case against then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in 2012. He had called her weak, and claimed that, if he were to be given power for just one day, he could change the situation.
Now that he is the Chief Minister, he says, “Repeated rape of minors is shameful and worrying. Delhi police has completely failed to provide safety. What are the Prime Minister and the lG doingIJ” Mr Kejriwal tweeted on his way to meet the families of the two victims. He later tweeted, “PM sir, give control of Delhi Police to Delhi Government for one year. If situation does not improve, take it back.”
For him, when any incident occurs, it is the police that is responsible (and that is not in Aam Aadmi Party’s control). If there is a dengue outbreak, the municipal corporation controlled by the BJP is the villain. When something else happens, then the BJP and the Congress are responsible. If some of his people are arrested then the Centre is trying to destabilise the Aam Aadmi Party Government. If the party splits due to his high-handedness, it is the Opposition which is engineering it. If there is a breakdown in law and order, it is because the police is not with him. If he gets adverse publicity, it is due to the media. The list goes on. And what is his answer to all theseIJ Taking to the streets!
Who are the bad boys according to Mr Kejriwal. His first target is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by lt Governor Najeeb Jung. The Chief Minister had pitted himself against Mr Modi in Varanasi during the lok Sabha poll, and he continues to dream of becoming Prime Minister some day. Moreover, it is clear that Mr Kejriwal knows that he has limited powers as police and land powers are not with him. Even before the Assembly election, he started his agitation for full statehood for Delhi, which was what his predecessors too had demanded, whether from the Congress or the BJP. But the Centre had a deaf ear. So, Mr Kejriwal is trying to find some excuse or the other to start an agitation for full statehood.
His second target is Delhi Police. He had been consistent in this even during his first stint as Chief Minister. His strained relations with the police goes back a long way since the India Against Corruption rally in Ramlila grounds. It was Delhi police which had removed him by force when he sat on a dharna in his first stint as Chief Minister. In his second stint, he had used abusive words like “thulla” against the police. It was in bad taste. “The entire Delhi Police is out to put AAP MlAs behind bars on Modi’s order”, Mr Kejriwal alleged and said that Mr Jung was just the Prime Minister’s puppet, placed to hinder the AAP regime’s good work.
His third target is the BJP. Whenever any epidemic like dengue breaks out, it is the BJP-controlled civic body which becomes his target. In the recent episode, he woke up a little late and got the Government machinery geared up to deal with dengue. There’s no doubt the civic agency had failed, but why did not the State Government take steps in advance to safeguard the health of the citizens of DelhiIJ Both the AAP and the BJP made tall promises to Delhiites on the issue of healthcare.
His fourth enemy is the media. It is the villain for his failures and he has threatened to file defamation suits and some, calling for public trials when his Ministers got exposed in court cases.
To be charitable to the AAP, perhaps the party captured power a little too early, with its members still in the opposition mode. Moreover, there is not enough talent in either the Cabinet or the party to tap into.
Also, Mr Kejriwal is in a hurry to deliver, and knows he cannot because of several constraints. This makes him frustrated. So he has begun looking around to find fault with Messrs Modi and Jung, the BJP, the Congress, the police, the courts, the media and other institutions.
There comes a time when the public gets disenchanted with a Government whom it had given a massive mandate. Should Mr Kejriwal not see the writing on the wall and begin to govern, for which he was electedIJ There are so many things he can do within the powers he now has, instead of wasting his energy on other things.