The AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal has been successful in forming its governments in Delhi and Punjab. The party, within a decade of its formation, has done what other regional parties could not. Aam Aadmi Party has shed away the ‘regional party’ tag with the Punjab victory, which parties like SP, TMC and NCP could not achieve. This has made AAP virtually equivalent to Congress as the Grand Old Party too has been reduced to only two states – Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. How did AAP get here? What has its strategy been?
On the surface, AAP has carefully crafted its strategy to retain a high share of Hindu votes. In Punjab too, Aam Aadmi Party attracted Hindu voters en masse. This is because the party has been careful to not attack PM Modi directly after the Model Code of Conduct kicks in. Unlike the Congress, AAP does not take a pro-Muslim stand overtly, and in fact, even engages in soft-Hindutva of sorts.
The Recipe of Anarchy
What often goes unnoticed is the AAP’s appetite for anarchy and chaotic politics. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party shamelessly fanned Khalistani sentiments. This campaign to woo radical elements in Punjab has been going on since 2017, when Kejriwal slept at the home of Gurwinder Singh, a Khalistan Liberation Front activist.
Again, in 2017, Gurdial Singh, the chief operative of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation, campaigned for AAP MLA Jaikishan Singh Rodi. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, an AAP leader ‘justified’ Khalistan referendum 2020. He said that the organizers of the referendum were “within their rights” to carry it out.
Now that an AAP government is in place in Punjab, Khalistani elements are feeling emboldened, which is why the violence in Patiala should come as a surprise to nobody.
Read more: BJP should wake up to the AAP challenge in Gujarat
Gujarat – AAP’s Next Target
In Gujarat, the Aam Aadmi Party is looking to ally with a party whose leader is a self-pronounced Naxalite. AAP is seeking an alliance with the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP), led by one Chhotu Vasava. In the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, 27 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.
Chhotu Vasava is an interesting man. He claims that the BJP refers to anyone championing the rights of tribals and ‘Adivasis’ as ‘Naxals’. So, this gives enough reason to Vasava to refer to himself as a Naxalite.
2. Let me show you tweets of Kejriwal's partner Chhotu Vasava in Gujarat. He proudly said that he is Naxali. pic.twitter.com/1dzgdYiQve
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) April 30, 2022
In fact, Vasava is also a rabid Hindu hater. He views tribals as non-Hindus. Moreover, he repeatedly asserts that Shree Ram never existed. Why? Because according to him, Bhagwaan Ram is not mentioned in Adivasi folklore, books and manuscripts. Chhotu Vasava also has a knack for taking “cow urine” jibes at Hindus. What’s worse, Chhotu Vasava believes India is occupying Kashmir.
4. Here are a few of his tweets where he is behaving like a typical radical leftist and taking jibes on cow and cow urine. pic.twitter.com/NTvpPbkrfF
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) April 30, 2022
6. Just like a typical radical communist he hates Hindus but he does propaganda to save radical Islamic terrorism pic.twitter.com/LfH0wXGOAL
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) April 30, 2022
AAP Looking to Fan Anarchy in Gujarat
The Aam Aadmi Party’s modus operandi is simple. It revolves around promising freebies to a dissatisfied class of people, feeding on their emotions and turning them against the established order. To achieve its political and electoral objectives, the Aam Aadmi Party does not mind radicalising a whole set of people. In Gujarat, its alliance with the BTP is meant to replicate the Punjab model.
So while in Punjab, Khalistanis feel emboldened; in Gujarat, the Aam Aadmi Party is strengthening Naxalites. AAP is playing a very dangerous game, all just to win elections. Ultimately, it will have to pay the price for its lethal experiments in one state after the other.