Tag Archives: Arvind Kejriwal

India, International, News, Politics

Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson joins AAP

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by Press Trust of India

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) got a shot in the arm when Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, joined the party today.

“The party is vehemently opposed to corruption and this is what I liked in it. There is a disparity between the rich and poor, and this also reflects in poor.

“If a common man joins and also becomes a part of politics then this is a welcoming step,” Gandhi, son of Devidas Gandhi and maternal grandson of C Rajagopalchari said.

The 78-year-old Gandhi, who had contested against former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi from Amethi, has expressed his willingness to contest on a party ticket. The party, too has remained mum over the issue.

“I would like to contest elections, but it is upon the party to decide on this,” Gandhi said, but refused to comment on his preferred constituency.

He added that he was approached by the party, but declined to reveal who he was in touch with from AAP and when was he contacted to join the party.

Courtesy: Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/mahatma-gandhis-grandson-joins-aap/#.Uwf4WLbg_sM.facebook

India, News, Politics

When a movement became a government

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By Amit Baruah

Bharat Mata Ki Jai is a slogan associated with the Hindu Right and Inquilab Zindabad with the Indian Left. After taking oath as chief minister at the jam-packed Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Saturday, Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) used both slogans.

He also invoked Bhagwan and Allah almost in the same breath, suggesting there was something divine about the impressive performance that catapulted AAP to power in India’s capital city.

The use of the slogans, taking from the Right and the Left, make it clear that Kejriwal and his associates can’t be slotted into neat political categories and revealed that they will use any symbols to reach the people.

By taking the name of god, the chief minister was telling Delhi (and the nation listening on television) that he wasn’t godless and was a believer who respected different religions.

Here’s what the AAP website has to say on the party being described as “leftist”:

“We are very much solution focused rather than ideology driven. There is an age old tendency to pin down political parties as left, right, center etc. In the process everyone forgets the issues at hands and their solutions. Our goal is to remain solution focused. If the solution to a problem lies on the left we are happy to consider it. Likewise, if it is on right (or in the center) we are equally happy to consider it. Ideology is one for the pundits and the media to pontificate about.”

Kejriwal’s party is arguing that “ideology” obfuscates issues and solutions and they will consider any solution that works.

Read more » DAWN
http://www.dawn.com/news/1077312/when-a-movement-became-a-government