Comments on: India Still Needs the Aam Aadmi Party

By: Nilanjana

Nilanjana — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 05:23:21 +0000

Thankfully the democratic framework in India allows for a vibrant public space. It’s nature is not determined by few people who claim to know what is best for India. If you have sufficiently paid attention to detail It should be clear that I am not anti BJP. I surely have my reservations when it comes to the Congress. Also, if you have been sufficiently patient you would notice that the focus is not solely on recent developments. The focus is on the development of a political culture which is characteristic of a deepening of Indian democracy. You maybe anti AAP – and that is absolutely fine – but there should be space for such a view to exist. The ability to transform from a sycophantic political culture to a participant political culture is not an easy achievement. These developments don’t happen overnight. The ability to make citizens care about the choices they make – they maybe anti AAP!, the ability to make them expect a lot from the system, and the ability to involve people who were averse to politics and get voters to participate is a major achievement.

By: Red Spark

Red Spark — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 01:53:08 +0000

No. In fact that is the first thing India doesn’t need. Sorry. No place. Go get a life and leave India alone. It has just started doing good. It has a lot to do and hence no time to waste for you.

By: Nilanjana

Nilanjana — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:02:47 +0000

The focus of the article is precisely on the ideas the party revived. The country has seen a shift in the political culture. What we see today is a participant political culture and it would be incorrect to say that the party had absolutely no role in its development. If you focus solely in the antics of party members, indeed there is reason to worry. I wish to maintain that irrespective of whether the party survives or not it has done much for the country by freeing us from a sycophantic political culture.
The article acknowledges that there are drawbacks of the party:their idea of a direct democracy, the crisis of identity, the organisational limitations, to name a few. While we have reason to be cynical with much drama that is unfolding, we cannot argue that the political system in India has no place for alternative politics.

By: Prateek

Prateek — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 13:34:01 +0000

Simplistic to the extent of being delusional. The author seems to be completely innocent of the lack of integrity so shamelessly shown by Arvind Kejriwal. AAP was good as an idea, but till it is led by the crooks who are at its helm, AAP will remain doomed. A different organisation, led by more honest people which replaces AAP might be useful.