AAP Government just completed one year in power backed by a momentous mandate. The Poll Promises made by the AAP were the most ambitious promises the residents of Delhi had ever witnessed. If the initial days of 2015 saw unprecedented support for Kejriwal, 2016 has seen unprecedented criticism for him. While 2014 and 2015 supported AAP’s brand of politics its governance had never been put to test.
We therefore examine what the Kejriwal Government has done in the last one year. What all it has done that it never promised and what all it has promised but now even avoids talking about it. What it promised and did not do
One year of Kejriwal: Women Security
This was the topmost priority of AAP in its poll promises and promised a host of initiatives including deployment of Home Guard Commandos, installation of 15 lakh CCTV Cameras and world class street lighting.
As far as the issue of deployment of Commandos is concerned the Kejriwal Government has completely repudiated this promise. The Aam Aadmi Party has now resorted to the argument that it once used to vehemently reject. Kejriwal Sir now proudly argues that since Delhi Police is with the Centre. It is the sole responsibility of the Centre to look after the law and order situation of Delhi.
As far as the issue of CCTV Cameras is concerned, Kejriwal somehow managed to convince the people of Delhi that he has devised an innovative cost cutting method whereby the CCTV Cameras will be installed. Today the AAP supporters are arguing fund crunch for non-installation and as far as the Government is concerned, it does not even bother to comment on the stage of implementation.
One year of Kejriwal: Cleaning Yamuna
Before the Polls, the Aam Aadmi Party had promised cleaning Yamuna, the lifeline of Delhi. Even as the legal experts argued that Water Bodies are a concurrent subject and do not come within the direct ambit of State Government. One year hence, the Kejriwal Government has not even started any initiative or scheme to undertake this mammoth project.
One year of Kejriwal: Freebies
This was the USP of Kejriwal’s Election Campaign, distributing everything for free as if we have the problem of plenty. First AAP claimed that it will give necessities like water and electricity for free and then it promised that a luxury like Wi-Fi Service will be provided for free in Delhi.
As far as water and Electricity is concerned it was provided at subsidized rates to a minuscule population of Delhi and the Government has avoided commenting on why the rates are being subsidized when it claimed that efficient service will lead to a natural reduction in Prices.
As far as Free Wi-Fi is concerned Kejriwal Government has again forgotten this promise because it is practically impossible to bring this into execution. Even if executed this it will have no significance for it is immaterial to the needy section to have Wi-Fi access when it can’t even manage two square meals in a day.
It is amply clear that freebies was just a premise for gaining power. Once the electorate has been fooled into this trap, Kejriwal has taken up street smart policy of using melodrama as a tool to keep our minds diverted.
One year of Kejriwal: What Kejriwal did but had never promised
Kejriwal is not obnoxious because he did not fulfill his promises but because he did many things that he never promised.
One year of Kejriwal: VVIPsm
AAP had made us Delhites or at least the most of us believe that it is in principle against the VVIP culture but thereafter has done everything to promote the same culture.
Before the Elections AAP claimed that its MLAs will withdraw only half of their salaries and now it has hiked their salaries by 400% and at the same time has denied salaries to the MCD workers. Therefore, instead of ending the obnoxious culture, the gap between the poorest and the richest is increasing. Hence, the poor is becoming poorer while the rich is becoming richer.
One year of Kejriwal: Advertisements
This is something that annoys even the supporters of the AAP. Kejriwal’s incessant need of giving movie reviews, spending more than Rs. 500 Crores of taxpayers’ money on disguised personal advertisement and joining hands with Chara Chors and graveyard politicians. Kejriwal has not left any stone unturned to indulge into cheap publicity of all kinds.
One year of Kejriwal: Confrontational Politics
Kejriwal Sir had promised beforehand that he will show political maturity and coordinate with the Modi Government. But from day one he has dragged the PM into any issue that surrounds Delhi Politics. Kejriwal has thus tried to set apart Delhi as a completely separate entity having a separate identity from the Rest of India. This was reflected in his vulgar comments after the CBI raid as if the CBI had raided an office outside its jurisdiction.
To sum up One year of Kejriwal
The Article is not aimed at creating a sense of pessimism. It is not that Kejriwal has not done anything that he promised. AAP always showed the promise of melodrama and it is doing exactly that. Kejriwal as a whole has done everything that he did not promise but has not done anything that he promised.