Arvind Kejriwal and AAP - Page 7

@Krystal and Genie

I accept that AAP may have acted with all good intentions to serve the people. However, it seems that AAP is arbitrarily defining who is the Aam Aadmi. In my opinion majority of the police force is also an Aam Aadmi. They aren't the lawmakers or people in power. They are the law keepers, answerable to people in power.

The law minister conducted illegal raids, which I'll grant may have been done with good intentions. But then he wanted suspension of officers who didn't comply with him. The AAP immediately assumed the cops did so to protect criminals. Could it possibly be that the cops were just hesitant to wholeheartedly comply with a raid that was illegal? Perhaps the cops were dirty. But perhaps it is possible they were just following the rules of law. Perhaps they have been covering up crime. But perhaps lack of evidence or pressure from higher officials is preventing them from taking action. The cops who were taken on the raids may not even be the cops who received the complaints and had the burden of investigation.

As a common government employee, I think cops should have right to their daily livelihood. I think they also deserve innocent until proven guilty. If they are to be suspended or fired, it should be after proper investigation that proves they did something wrong. Instead the AAP holds a dharna demanding immediate suspension without waiting for investigation. How is that any different from any other party that expects all govt. employees to toss the rulebook out and dance to their tunes? How is that different from any other party that doesn't give a damn about the rights of aam admi employees?

@Angie

There is indeed a major conflict of interests in who gets to control the police force in Delhi. I can see both the CM and the Union have valid reasons for retaining control. I hope that for the good of the people, eventually a compromise can be reached. I was researching the law and order in District of Columbia which is slightly similar. It is a federal district and not a complete state. Looks like there are dual systems there - the US Marshalls directly under command of the president and metropolitan police department under command of the Mayor of DC. Perhaps Delhi can have similar dual layered systems.

Originally posted by: Rehanism

Apparently AAP and its brand of simpletons take the term 'Public Servant' quite literally. As per them if you are a 'Public Servant', you are answerable directly to the Janta and you must act as per their orders and diktats and if you refuse you are automatically corrupt and inept.

@Genie

I know that police officers are corrupt. There are many ordinary employees in government posts that do harass other ordinary people demanding bribes for processing simple paperwork. Police officers are even known to harass innocent civilians threatening arrest/legal action if bribes are not paid. There are various reasons for this systematic corruption in many levels. While corruption should be investigated, punished and eradicated, I maintain that the employee is still an ordinary person whose rights and privileges must be protected.

I agree that cops should be held accountable for their duties. If there are reasonable and serious doubts on a cops integrity there should be thorough investigation. Unfortunately, AAP didn't conduct themselves in the right manner. They demanded retribution for failure of cops to comply with the law ministers illegal raid. It came off as stubborn and petulant retaliation rather than a sincere effort to punish corruption in the force.

I was unaware that the constitution demanded suspension of those under investigation. Seems counter intuitive to innocent until proven guilty. Strips protection in case of false charges. If that is the law though, it should be followed. However, the investigation should be over reasonable doubts over integrity not failure to comply with the whims of a law minister.

Refusal to comply with an illegal raid should never have been the trigger to seek action. The proper thing to do would have been to present reasonable doubt and demand suspension pending investigation. AAP's intent indeed maybe more noble and genuine. Their actions maybe solely to target corruption. But ends don't justify the means. Political bullying is political bullying no matter which party does it for whatever reason. If AAP wants to preserve credibility and goodwill they should end these risqu measures that come off as stubbornness, anarchism and bullying.

It is wrong whenever a person in power suspends people on their whims. People should have objected to Shinde's suspensions too. But just because Shinde wasn't protested doesn't mean people should keep mum now. People probably didn't expect integrity from him, but they do from AAP because AAP promised integrity.

I'm not saying throw the rulebook. But have everyone adhere to the rulebook civilians, cops, politicians and even AAP.

@Genie

My biggest skepticism of the AAP was their ability to legislate. The party is made up of many accomplished intelligent people. They are great social activists and campaigners. However, the question remains - can good activists make capable legislators?

I don't expect AAP to make any big dents or changes. I don't expect them to change Delhi overnight. I am impressed at some of the few things they accomplished like curbing the tanker mafia. I didn't expect them to do it as soon as they did. My actual expectations are simple. Simply be a party of integrity and focus on governing. Think before acting and speaking. Most importantly don't do anything of questionable legality no matter what the rationale. It is high time they stopped acting like activists and became good legislators. It is natural for people to be disheartened of the party just keeps doing tamasha.