Opinion Alien AAP

The confusion within the Sangh Parivar about how to tackle the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appears to persist.

January 9, 2014 09:44 PM IST First published on: Jan 2, 2014 at 12:28 AM IST

The confusion within the Sangh Parivar about how to tackle the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appears to persist. This comes to the fore in the latest issue of Panchjanya,which sees AAP as a message to the BJP to enhance its public image. The Organiser highlights the importance of foreign funds behind Arvind Kejriwals emergence.

The warning bells have rung in the worlds youngest nation and largest democracy. While this ring echoes the sadness within the Congress state unit on its death bed,its a challenge for an ideological party like the BJP to enhance its level of political probity, the editorial in Panchjanya suggests. Even as Panchjanya reminds readers that fulfilling electoral promises will be a challenge for Kejriwal,it wonders whether the ideological capital of AAP is internal or imported.

But a full-page coverage of AAP in Panchjanya as well as the Organiser seeks to assert alien influences behind Kejriwals emergence,saying that this needs to be viewed with a bit of caution,in view of the alien influence that has been visible over some of its leaders. The report highlights the Ford Foundations financial grant to Kejriwals NGO in the past as well has his Magsaysay award to buttress the case of alien influences.

Its also to be ascertained to what extent Indian civil society organisations are under the influence of the pink tide of the New Global Left created and sustained by the World Social Forum (WSF), the article says,pointing out that this new global left launched itself from Porto Alegre in Brazil,with the first WSF in 2001. The report,however,misses highlighting that Porto Alegres direct democracy is the inspiration behind Kejriwals swaraj model of governance.

WRONG ADARSH

The debate in the Sangh Parivar between going all out against AAP and appreciating Kejriwal may persist. But the parivar has found a stick in AAPs Delhi success to beat the Congress with for its omissions and commissions elsewhere. Taking a dim view of the Congress-led Maharashtra governments rejection of the Adarsh report,an editorial in the Organiser comments,one was hoping that the Congress would have learnt a lesson in governance after AAPs success in Delhi. The anti-graft movement and victory of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi has proved that corruption is an issue that is close to the heart of the Indian masses, reminds the editorial,warning the Congress that it has to understand that Indian voters are no longer in the mood to take this Adarsh way of governance.

IM-RED

While both weeklies extensively cover Narendra Modis Mumbai rally,the Organiser highlights the alleged terror plot to unleash fidayeen attackers on the BJPs prime ministerial candidate during his campaign in Chhattisgarh to red-flag a potential nexus between the Indian Mujahideen and Maoists. The possibility of ultra-Left extremists… joining hands with the homegrown terror organisation IM has led to immense concern in intelligence and investigative circles… according to intelligence sources,this deadly combo may take shape in Chhattisgarh,as the IM might use the network of the Maoists and procure arms and ammunition from them in exchange of handsome payments to the red cadre, says an article in the Organiser,referring to the arrest of several SIMI members from Chhattisgarh and reports of alleged IM operatives,suspected of involvement in the Bodh Gaya and Patna blasts,being provided shelter in Raipur.

Compiled by Ravish Tiwari