Analysis | AAP continues to remain aloof from Opposition with unclear ideology

On Monday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s official Twitter account listed out the Muslim-majority international locations to which India-made vaccines had been despatched by the Narendra Modi authorities as a part of the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ programme. Pakistan was high on the record and the occasion stated Prime Minister Modi sought votes from Indians however despatched vaccines overseas.

Two hours later, seeing the antagonistic response, an extra record of nations was posted. Pakistan just isn’t among the many 95 international locations listed on the Ministry of External Affairs web site that acquired India-made vaccines. Pakistan received the vaccines by means of COVAX — an initiative geared toward equitable entry to the COVID vaccines.

AAP nationwide spokesperson Raghav Chaddha was despatched a set of questions together with on the explanations for the stated tweet, however there was no reply.

But the message had already been despatched out — the insinuation that the Modi authorities was too pleasant in direction of Muslim international locations. The AAP has taken a leaf out of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s e-book on Pakistan. Linking Pakistan to Opposition politics is a well-known trope of BJP politics however the AAP has been attempting to use it towards it.

Arvind Kejriwal had characterised the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as a measure to assist Pakistanis at the price of Indians.

Staying aloof

The AAP, whereas confronting the BJP on selective points, has additionally chosen to remain aloof from different Opposition events on points that they collectively raised. There was no phrase from it on the arrest of TMC ministers in a corruption case by the CBI, which has not acted towards BJP leaders accused in the identical case.

Since final December, there was at the least three joint Opposition statements on farmers’ agitation and the mismanagement of the COVID pandemic by the federal government. The AAP was not a signatory to any of those.

A bit of the Opposition holds the Congress primarily chargeable for retaining the AAP out.

“The Congress is allergic towards the AAP,” an Opposition chief stated. Sources stated on the problem of COVID pandemic, the AAP was approached but it surely was reluctant to take part.

It is unclear whether or not it’s the AAP’s reluctance or the Congress’s reservation that’s retaining the AAP from being a signatory to these joint letters, however what is obvious is the reluctance of the AAP to query the BJP on Hindutva points.

On Monday, when the remainder of the Opposition was criticising the “high-handedness” of Narendra Modi authorities for the CBI motion towards TMC leaders within the Narada case, the AAP was silent.

Mr. Kejriwal, who shares a heat equation with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, didn’t make any public remark. The occasion’s views concerning the CBI motion on TMC leaders was additionally sought, however there was no response.

In March all the Opposition had rallied behind the AAP towards the Modi authorities for bringing within the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. On March 24, simply three days earlier than the primary vote was solid, TMC flew in 9 of Rajya Sabha MPs simply to take part within the debate.

Mr. Kejriwal additionally thanked Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for supporting the folks of Delhi towards the BJP’s assault on democracy and federalism.

All this isn’t new. The AAP was among the many events that supported the federal government on August 5, 2019, when Parliament handed the J&K Reorganisation Bill, whereas the Congress, the Left, the DMK and the SP, amongst different Opposition events, staunchly opposed it. In the morning, the AAP, which has three members within the Upper House, trooped contained in the properly with the remainder of the Opposition protesting towards the laws. But inside a couple of hours, they did a somersault. Party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “We support the government on its decisions on J&K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state.” The AAP voted in favour of the federal government.

During the extended anti-CAA protests in Delhi in 2019, Mr. Kejriwal had stated that if his authorities had management of the Delhi Police, they might have gotten the roads cleared of the protesters.

‘False narrative’

Congress normal secretary Ajay Maken, who has confronted the AAP in Delhi, says the AAP led by Kejriwal didn’t have any ideology — political or in any other case. “We have seen them swing from extreme political left to extreme right. Having started as crusaders against corruption, over the years there are numerous examples of the AAP shielding the corrupt,” he stated, accusing the AAP of clinging on to energy utilizing public cash for commercials to create a false narrative.

“Several questions have been raised about the ideological and political position of the AAP; it is for the AAP to clarify where it stands. While we don’t expect all secular parties to take a leftist stand, at least they should remain centrist and not take a right of centre position,” CPI normal secretary D. Raja stated.