Rameez Makhdoomi
Recently in a historic development, the charismatic and honest persona Arvind Kejriwal of newly formed dynamic political party Aam Admi Party (AAP) became the Chief Minister of Delhi. Pertinently Arvind Kejriwal (born 16 August 1968) is the 7th and current Chief Minister of Delhi. Born in Haryana, Kejriwal is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, where he studied mechanical engineering. He worked for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) as a Joint Commissioner in the Income Tax Department. He is well-known for his efforts to bring and implement the Right to Information (RTI) Act at grassroots level and his role in drafting a proposed Jan Lokpal Bill.
In just few days he has made his marks visible by following the style of simplicity and showing will power to act tough against corruption. During his campaign too he and his party AAP struck chord with public mood.
While in contrast to optimism in Delhi, the scenario with reference to governance looks bleak in Kashmir. National Conference -Congress led government needs to take a leaf out of the book of Aaam Admi Party. Extravagance, Pomp and show, inefficiency, lack of touch with masses are the trademarks of the representatives of current governance system in Jammu & Kashmir.
Both National and local voices are Urging Omar Abdullah Led coalition government to learn from the simplicity and grassroot oriented approach of AAP.
Sameera Gawandi, a Mumbai based social activist states – “ The political class in Jammu & Kashmir needs to learn from Aam Admi Party so as to offer effective governance to the state. Development/job opportunities/ sports tourism should be their main issues to b solved .Sadly, the current Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah is young but is clueless as to how to make his state prosperous. He is just like Rahul Gandhi born with a silver spoon but not much visionary approach no difference between the both.”
While on one hand the state has witnessed one scam after another with corruption remaining unabated and even the prestigious Common Entrance Test is facing corruption charges .Undoubtedly, the current government of Jammu & Kashmir in this regard needs to learn from Kejriwal and his team.
Within few days of AAP rule, Delhiites can now call a helpline to seek assistance in nabbing a government official or an organization seeking bribes for executing a public work or service in the capital.Launching the service , Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described it as a “helpline” that would help catch bribe-seekers and said it was not a “complaint number”. The helpline would instruct the caller on how to conduct a sting operation by secretly recording the accused’s demand (in audio or video) to create the ‘first evidence’, on the basis of which government’s anti-corruption team will lay a trap to nab the offender red-handed.The AAP is constantly drawing other mechanisms to tackle corruption.
On the otherhand, not only corruption but the poor track record of Omar led government to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to book has summed up the disaster. Pertinently, the parents and kiths and kins of the youth killed over the years in protests or alleged fake encounters have cried foul over the lack of justice from Omar led government. Family of Tufail Ahmad Matto and other hundreds of boys killed in 2010 unrest and others in following years in alleged police or army action have criticized Omar led government for failing to provide justice.
Mushtaq-ul-Haq Sikandar , a political analysts states -“The AAP victory wasn’t spectacular one because they got only 30% votes, but after attaining power they certainly proved true to their name of being Aam Aadmi party with whom people can relate. These ideals were envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi but were never implemented. The ‘democratically’ elected politicians always behaved like dictators and lived a pompous life of monarchs whom in theory they used to criticize. Billions of tax payers money was used by the politicians for their individual life style not to talk of embezzlement and filling their coffers with the public money.
Then these so called representatives of people were never accessible nor accountable before people. Now AAP’s Gandhigiri though they may not like it the term Gandhigiri, is inscribing a different story in Indian history. If AAP continues to work in this austere and people friendly manner then certainly the oligarchic elites will either have to ascribe and emulate AAPs working style or perish. The ruling class in Kashmir which has miserably failed on governance front also needs to take clue out of it.”
Certainly, Kejriwal enthuses Omar Dissapoints.