The AAP Agenda ? Part (2/2)

By Hrishikesh Utpat

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) emerged as the second largest party in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections and formed the government with outside support from the Congress. Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP chief, became the Chief Minister of Delhi. This article, a continuation of “The AAP Agenda – Part 1” (http://wordpress-200526-602825.cloudwaysapps.com//the-aap-agenda-part-12/) discusses the AAP manifesto for the Delhi agenda and critically analyzes both their ideas, as well as the political implications of the rise of the AAP.

Ideas that will have a positive impact

The AAP is an offshoot of India Against Corruption (IAC), which led a strong agitation demanding for the implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Naturally, one of the first things promised by the AAP is the provision of a Lokpal for Delhi, and the passing of the Delhi Lokpal Bill. This step – although not a panacea or all-power tool – will definitely help strengthen the anti-corruption apparatus.

Similarly, the AAP plans to expand the system of mohallah sabhas to monitor schools, ration shops and hospitals. If implemented properly, this step will help give people greater control over essential services that determine their day-to-day activities.

 One of the most striking proposals of the AAP is the implementation of the Verma Committee recommendations. The Verma Committee, established in the after math of the terrible Delhi gang rape of December 2012, mentioned several ideas that would strengthen the institutional set-up to prevent crimes against women. Even an acknowledgment of the recommendations of this committee is reassuring in today’s scenario.

 The AAP has also suggested steps such as building 2 lakh toilets, simplifying licensing process for industries, simplifying VAT structure, protecting workers in the unorganized sector and taking steps to protect rights of transgender members. There are also ideas to improve status of the environment, and ensure social justice. Such ideas, although small in magnitude, will have a positive impact on society. It is essential that they are implemented properly by the government.

Ideas that will have a negative impact

 One of the first steps taken by the AAP government was the promised water policy. This policy is an extremely dangerous one which is causing a distortion in the pattern of water consumption at the tax-payer’s cost. A detailed analysis has been provided in the article “Kejriwal’s Waterloo” (http://wordpress-200526-602825.cloudwaysapps.com//kejriwals-waterloo-the-economics-of-free-water/).

 An incident that was highlighted by the media was the Janata Darbar fiasco held in Delhi. Although the government cannot be blamed for the ruckus on the day of the Darbar – even the best of governments can mess up individual rallies – it has to be noted that several political leaders have a long tradition of successfully holding such darbars for years without incident. Similarly, although the intention of allowing people to regularly interact with their elected representatives has to be lauded, it has to be noted that such a system is against constitutional design. The Indian constitution provides for MLAs and MPs to address the people’s concerns. Similarly, local self-government bodies have been constituted to address the people’s issues. Having the CM directly receive complaints from the people in public rallies is against constitutional design, cannot be up-scaled to a larger state and is largely theatrical.

One of the most controversial promises made by the AAP in its manifesto pertains to Muslims. The manifesto promises that the harassment of Muslim youth in false police cases shall be prevented. If this is to be considered as an acknowledgment of systematic bias against members of a particular community, no steps are suggested to remove such a bias. Furthermore, such a promise is against the secular fabric of the country. The national crime bureau data has shown that Muslims do indeed face false accusations, persecutions and are victims of biases; this is an issue that has to be addressed on priority. But the same data also shows that members of all communities are persecuted similarly – including members of other minority communities, as well as majority communities; the AAP is silent on addressing the human rights violations of these groups. The AAP promise to address the issue of false accusations of only Muslim youth is biased, against the secular traditions of India and is a classic case of minority appeasement politics.

Opposing FDI in retail

The AAP government on assuming power rolled back the decision to allow FDI in the retail sector. Studies have conclusively shown that the Indian economy has benefitted by greater integration into the global economy. Foreign investment is one of the key lifelines that allows for the growth of the Indian economy, and creates a “larger pie” from which developmental and welfare activities can be financed. The AAP decision to roll back FDI is a severe set-back, and reminds one of George Fernandes (Industry Minister, 1977, Morarjibhai Desai government) ordering Coca Cola and IBM to leave India. Such quintessentially socialistic policies adopted by the AAP are going to adversely affect the Indian economy.

Education

One of the most controversial decisions taken by the AAP has been the proposed reservation of 90% of seats within Delhi University for local students. Delhi University houses some of the nation’s best educational institutes, which are sought after by students across the nation. Imagine a situation where IIT Bombay declares 90% reservation for students from Maharashtra, or IIM Ahmedabad declare 90% reservation for students from Gujarat. The AAP proposal strikes at the very heart of educational excellence and is also a challenge to national one-ness. This populist move has been criticized by many, including the principle of the renowned St. Stephen’s college, DU.

Another such promise has been made within the AAP manifesto is to open new colleges for students from Delhi. While it is essential to expand the number of quality educational institutes across the nation, it would be in the interest of national unity if such institutes are not established for the sole use of students belonging to one particular state.

The AAP has also proposed a law to regulate private school fees and colleges. While it is true that the cost of education is steadily rising, such a law will interfere in the function of educational institutes. Good quality institutes need adequate revenue flow to provide for facilities, laboratories, and infrastructure and provide good quality teaching staff with appropriate salaries. Studies have shown that private educational institutes – that charge high fees – are capable of providing such facilities. By regulating the fees in educational institutions, the government is preventing their up gradation. Instead, seeking greater transparency from institutions regarding function would be more useful. Similarly, if fees have to be capped, the government should provide for funding of educational institutes – although this step would increase deficit and ultimate increase the tax payer’s burden. But by unilaterally capping school and college fees, the government is throttling their expansion.

Kashmir stand

 Prashant Bhushan, senior AAP leader, created a controversy by his stand on the Kashmir issue. In an interview, he said that he supported a plebiscite in Kashmir and that the presence of the army, as well as the application of AFSPA in Kashmir should be determined by voting. Not only does this betray shocking ignorance of the delicate security situation in Kashmir, such statements made my elected representatives in India play right into the hands of separatist and anti-Indian forces. It would do well to remember that Prashant Bhushan in 2011 had called for the separation of Kashmir from India, if such was the people’s wish.

Delhi Police Fiasco

The AAP has come under intense criticism over the conduct of its Law Minister Somnath Bharati and Women and Child Welfare Minister Rakhi Birla in their approach towards the Delhi Police. Their futile attempts at vigilantism have been described as extra-legal or illegal by legal experts like Harish Salve and Justice Santosh Hegde. The altercation with the Delhi police is going to spoil the working relation between the Delhi government and police force, as well as hurt morale. The unfortunate maltreatment of the Ugandan and Nigerian nationals has been in violation of human dignity and women rights, and also caused the nation embarrassment on the international stage.

 Perhaps, the root of this issue lies in the fact that the AAP has not yet acknowledged the fact that there is a systematic distribution of power between the Delhi government and the Union government, as per the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. The AAP is looking for quick-fix solutions via parallel systems and is not addressing the structural problems that need to be solved to make the Delhi police force more effective.

Ill-formed Ideas

There are many ideas mentioned in the AAP manifesto that require elaboration. Ideas such as reduction of air and water pollution are mentioned, but there is no mechanism to address this issue. The manifesto also promises that public schools will be made as good as private ones, but does not mention concrete steps towards this end. Other ideas such as creating legal frameworks for protecting the rights of street vendors, SC/ST and Dalits, giving priority to the disabled in filling posts are already mentioned in several legislations enacted at the central level.

Conclusion

It is seen that the ideas floated by the AAP are of a mixed variety. Although a few of these ideas are in the larger interest of society, there are several ill-formed ideas that will hurt the people. After studying the AAP manifesto, other literature and the steps taken by the government, it will be acknowledged that the AAP lacks political maturity and depth. Deep introspection is required by members of the AAP to improve upon their existing ideas.

One of the most common defenses provided for this shortcoming is that the AAP has been in power for only a couple of weeks. Although this is fine as far as implementation goes – good or bad implementation of policy cannot be determined in a matter of weeks – such a defense cannot be applied to policy design. The process of forming these ideas has been years in the making. Furthermore, a government cannot declare their inexperience in the face of adversity. Are the people of India to expect such a reaction in case the nation is faced by economic or security crisis? The conduct of the AAP and its various ideas do not inspire confidence in the spheres of foreign, economic or security policies.

 The AAP has to be given credit for making the Indian electoral process much more dynamic. As has been mentioned in previous articles, the rise of the AAP within the short span of a year without any traditional vote-bank or lobby supporting them has been phenomenal. And yet, the rise of the AAP poses a threat to India vis-à-vis 2014. A successful AAP is going to strengthen the chances of a third front government; the post-election maneuvers executed by the AAP show that they are capable of forming alliances as per their needs and the demands of power. In the absence of a common minimum agenda uniting and defining a third front government, such a government will be disastrous for India.

 India has already faced policy paralysis and an ineffective, inefficient and corrupt government for the past 5 years. The 2014 election is not a battle for the Lok Sabha; it is a battle for India. Although the Indian voter has in the past proved his affinity for trinkets and baubles, it has to be hoped that this time he or she will make a decision that is in the nation’s long-term interest.

The author has completed his BE (Computer Science) from MIT College, Pune, and his currently pursuing a masters degree in Economics. He particularly enjoys social sciences, and has chosen to study Economics because it provides the “perfect blend of Science and Social Sciences”. Currently preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, Hrishikesh hopes to serve the country by joining the bureaucracy – having cleared the Preliminary exams for the Civil Services in 2013, he will be appearing for the Mains exams in December. His passions include reading, writing, travelling, mountaineering and teaching. Currently affiliated with the prestigious Chanakya Mandal Pariwar organization in Pune, Hrishikesh teaches a wide range of subjects such as History, International Relations, Economics, Mathematics and Statistics.