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The circus of protest and the vote bank politics

They say, "give a man power and you know his true character". Looks like, the AAP is proving it absolutely true. In its latest carefully crafted political farce, last week, AAP started a protest seeking suspension of four Delhi police officers for "disobeying" Law minister Somnath Bharti's order to arrest some Ugandan and Nigerian women on charges of prostition and drug peddling during his racist vigilante style midnight raid. When Delhi police declined to perform any task which was against the law, the Law minister behaved in shockingly unruly manner. The reports say that the treatment meted out to women in question during this drama was appallingly shameful. 

I am always jittery over anyone/group/ that claims to be a voice of community/group/nation, articulating well-crafted rhetoric! I am yet to understand if "protests"/dharanas lead to any alternate suggestions/answers in constructive ways. There are ways to address any issue in a democracy like India. Why go on streets, create anarchy, stall governance, create civil unrest by blackmailing as means to meet political agendas? Isn't it a very dangerous precedent to set? AAP's political jambooree; romanticized both by media and the mindless rhetoric of various people suddenly looking at an opportunity to have piece in the pie appears to have completely lost the plot.

Sadly, what we often fail to realize is that, headlines do not always translate into meaningful action that addresses the root cause of the issue. Instead, we fall in to trap of tail chasing scenario of hype and brouhaha the end result of which is nothing except outrage and helplessness.

Today, aggression has become our way of life. The frustration of a citizen due to complete absence of law and order, break down of the system that is becoming chaotic, unapproachable and deeply corrupt is brewing dangerous levels. Our judicial system that is bogged down by corruption and shrouded personal agendas of the individuals responsible for serving citizens of this country does not provide any hope. That is precisely why the onus is all the more on educated class, the enlightened minority to do something constructive about it and giving it voice that has potential to unite entire nation, shake us and compel us to look within and find our conscience.


National pride is a remarkable sentiment but when it is used to malign other political parties/race/country/culture, then it loses its very essence. Patriotism is not about temporary titillation of acrimonious acts of rancour.  

Politics is not my forte but my blood brews every time I witness such sad events that embroil the nation and create easily avoidable conflicts. We need to address the REAL issues not just indulge in mindless rhetoric. The AAP's pathetic attempt to position itself as voice of silent desperation and giving it cathartic release has fallen flat on its face. Voice of people is one of the most important pillar for any democracy but when the modus operandi of any protest is conducted and projected in a manner that reflects complete disregard for the constitution and judiciary, some serious doubts are raised about its credibilityI am not at all impressed by Mr.Arvind Kejriwal and his clans' antics for gaining political mileage out of this whole melodrama and its desperate attempt to position its politics as "revolution"!!! (Give me a break!) 

It is time for AAP to realize that snide remarks for other political parties, glorifying Mr.Arvind Kejriwal and AAP's antics as patriotism and the cupidity of its politicians who gain from such genre of politics is not going to serve them much in long run. The nation and media might have paid them attention so far but to take it for granted and assume that all those eyeballs would automatically convert into votes would be a political Harakiri. 

Raghurajpur, an emblem of heritage arts and crafts of Odisha!!!

About fifteen km from the revered city of Lord Jagannath, Puri, there is a tiny little hamlet Raghurajpur, nestled on the southern bank of r...