The surprise announcement from AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal to resign from the Delhi Chief Minister’s post is a welcome gesture. His image has been tainted on account of the charges levelled against him and his former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia – that they had conspired to tweak the Delhi government’s liquor policy and derived financial benefits from a hidden deal. The Supreme Court granted him bail two days ago and questioned the manner in which he was denied bail for the past six months. Kejriwal’s declaration is that he would now occupy the exalted post only if and after he gets the people’s verdict to remain in power. Sisodia, who is out on bail after a period of incarceration, too has taken a similar stand. Even granted that Kejriwal hesitated to resign as CM despite his arrest, his present decision is in keeping with the good traditions of democracy. Assembly polls are due there in a few months’ time.
The Delhi Excise Policy case registered by the central investigation agencies raised doubts about the integrity of Kejriwal, Sisodia and the AAP itself. Kejriwal’s argument that the BJP-led central government was trying to fix him cannot be taken at face value. There is no smoke without a fire. Yet, fact is also that the Modi establishment has been misusing the central agencies to target its political rivals while the corrupt in the BJP, and those that are siding with it, are either given a long rope or the cases against them are soft-pedalled. Investigations against business sharks who committed grave financial fraud have also been dragging. Several opposition chief ministers have been framed in recent times in corruption cases, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is cohabiting with tainted Chandrababu Naidu.
The Delhi liquor scam could not have been “invented” due solely to political rivalry. However, fact is also that commissions from liquor barons are a main source of income for all ruling parties across states, and the BJP is no exception. Yet, Kejriwal should have been mindful of the fact that his party was formed with the express purpose of fighting corruption in the establishment. It is understandable that politics is a different ball game and far removed from social activism. Huge funds are required to fight every election. Since Kejriwal set his eyes beyond Delhi, won power for his party in Punjab and sought to win polls in Haryana, Goa etc, he might have adopted unacceptable means to raise funds for the party. No one has yet certified him to be corrupt. His government, through repeated terms in Delhi, did a good job and took care of the common man. All these however cannot exonerate him from guilt, unless the court passes such a verdict.
