Lessons for the BJP

This is with reference to your news about the victory of AAP in the Delhi elections. It is indeed true that Arvind Kejriwal’s “Aam Aadmi Party” has comprehensively trounced the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Narendra Modi, in the Assembly elections in New Delhi, the capital of India, by winning 62 of the 70 seats, i.e. a thumping 90 per cent (“AAP roars in victory as BJP crouches in defeat,” Dec.12, Gulf Today).

The ruling BJP party had carried out a rancorous campaign, touching new lows in public conduct, finally culminating in bullets being fired at protesting crowds. The people of Delhi held their cool, and finally voted for the AAP party, which has done wholesome work on the ground. In doing so, the people have also rejected the divisive and fractured politics of the ruling BJP party, based on religious considerations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, should counsel his party members to cease indulging in religious politics and whipping unnecessary frenzy over emotional issues. His own image will get tarnished, if his party members do not uphold high standards in their debates and demeanour. The Indian economy is in the doldrums and that should be top priority.

Religious bigotry has no place in this age of digitisation and technology. Jobs and homes are a universal concern of the young everywhere in the world. The gods we worship, should be of private and personal concern.

A major tragedy of these elections, is that the monolithic Congress Party which had administered the capital city for 15 years, did not win a single seat. Unless the Congress reinvents itself and becomes more relevant, this great party once led by national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawharlal Nehru, will become irrelevant and face extinction.

Rahul Gandhi, the current face of the party, should pick up the gauntlet, roll-up his sleeves and work on the ground to resolve the problems of the common people. Tweets give a leader currency; tweets do not win elections. However resolving the sanitation, drinking water, electricity and unemployment issues of ordinary people can win elections. This, Rahul Gandhi needs to understand, if he wishes to lead India some day.

Rajendra Aneja
Mumbai, India