Delhi Police’s corruption is not unknown. There have been several occasions in last few years where the need of serious police reforms has been felt and demanded by the voter. Though it should be noted that the condition of Indian police in general isn’t that great either. And could be much worse. So, when a new political party / activist group demands police reforms that should be welcomed at large. It is long over due change – and more efficient / responsive police forces will definitely improve the law and order situation in India.
But what is happening in Delhi at the moment under the umbrella of Aam Aadmi Party is not the demand of better police for the city – but the resignation of those police officers who refused to work according to the whims of Delhi Law Minister Somanth Bharti. Arvind Kejriwal couldn’t have picked a worse timing to demand the reigns of Delhi Police. It seems like, in the process of covering up the blunders of Somanth Bharti, Arvind Kejriwal is trying to turn the tables on police.
But for what? So, Somnath Bharti could ask the police to break the law again? Even if Khirkee extension is believed to be teeming with hookers and drug peddlers – who’re also black – what should be the process of punishing these “criminals”? Who decides the crime of these people? Are all black people staying at Khirkee extension automatically criminals?
How do you recognize a criminal? Do drug peddlers / prostituted have a certain look? Would you call every scantily clad woman a sex-worker? Would you call every marijuana-user a drug peddler? If your house gets robbed by a couple of, let’s say, men of Nepalese origin – does that turn the entire colony of Nepalese people robbers?
Racism breeds from the same generalizations – people of certain look, certain religion, certain origin, certain race – are a threat. Isn’t that what happened with Sikhs in 1984? Isn’t that why many of them cut their hair to mingle??
I’d like to ask Mr Somnath Bharti, that isn’t it possible that in the process of proving himself efficient and approachable may be he made the mistake of being prejudiced? Locals who complained to him – could be prejudiced towards a certain race – may be some of the Ugandans are engaging in the criminal activities. But aren’t some Delhiites (local north-Indians) too criminals? They could be Sharmas, Bhartis, Mohammeds – but can you make a rapid generalization? I’m sure there’re many white people in India too who engage in prostitution and drug peddling.
What you forgot Mr Bharti that common man of India (or aam aadmi) may be a victim according to your politics, but can be still socially regressive, racist and prejudiced. And he’s allowed to – because there’re all kinds of people and people are flawed. But you’re not allowed to subscribe to their prejudices. You can’t make snap judgments based on color or race. You’re as the law minister of Delhi are not allowed to lead a lynch mob in the middle of the night to arrest so and so woman – who maybe did something illegal.
According to Indian law, not only can a woman not be arrested at night – but even if she’s a prostitute she has to be treated like a victim. If according to you, Ugandan women are being trafficked to India – does that not make them victims? And what did your mob do? They harassed them and made them give a urine sample in public. You could say your party members didn’t do it – but who was leading that mob? You. Who bears the responsibility of people getting hurt in that process? You.
Arvind Kejriwal in his interview with Barkha Dutt said SHO left Somnath Bharti – and anything could have happened to him. I’d like to ask you Arvind ji, who is hell bent on refusing security for MLAs for making the symbolic statement? Had Somnath Bharti availed the security it’d have been there with him at Khirkee? It wasn’t the job of the SHO to provide security to Bharti. He can’t force police to illegally arrest on his whims in front of camera and provide him security at the same time.
Somnath Bharti should be appreciated to be responsive to the complains of the people – but he should have better judgement as the law minister and a lawyer. He ideally should have expedited the pending complaints with police. He could have planned this raid with the police better. He could have used the entire law and constitution machinery available to him to act on the complaints of the people. Id he had done that – he wouldn’t have picked up two random black women, he would have nabbed the actual criminals. It is also to be noted that sensitive raids are not covered by media, sensitive raids are not made for the audience. They’re planned so they are successful and efficient. Taking media with him – does make one doubt about the intentions of AAP ministers. Are they here to make long-lasting changes to the system or get cheap publicity by becoming the hero in individual cases?
How is the lynch mob justice of AAP any different than that of infamous Shiv Sena and MNS?
Later, Arvind Kejriwal is sitting on a dharna demanding the suspension of these policemen who dared to defy THE LAW MINISTER. Despite not having very high opinion of Delhi Police, one can’t miss that this protest has got more to do with covering up embarrassment and ego than actual police reforms.
Yes, the police should be accountable to the people. But how would that be achieved if police simply has to bend to the whims of the next minister? Other states do have police directly under them – does that make their police any more efficient or responsive or accountable? Have we not seen numerous top-cops tying the shoe-laces of local MLAs?
Not only the new Chief Minister of Delhi engaging in state sponsored chaos and causing a lot of inconvenience to the residents – but also, very un-strategically letting Delhi Police slip-by as a victim. His efforts are more about score-settlement with certain policeman and shielding his inexperienced ministers via rhetoric of “Safe Delhi”. He could have launched something a few days earlier when the Danish rape case happened. At that time he wanted to keep himself limited to fact-finding to “Why women are not safe in Delhi?”
Just by shouting “aam aadmi, aam aadmi” at Jantar Mantar doesn’t give you a high moral ground. Following the law and still making the difference does. Arvind has gone as far as arrogantly claiming himself to be AN ANARCHIST. Does he consider it complimentary? Is this the example he’s setting up for his party cadre? Which twisted Bhagat Singh fantasy is he living in? Lawlessness is not attractive for India in 2014, Mr Kejriwal. Efficient enforcement of law is.
It can’t be denied that the crime exists – but there’re two problems at hand, one, responsiveness of police, but the second new problem, mob justice. One wrong doesn’t cancel the second. It only makes the problem more complicated.
It’s not bad that you’re trying to solve the problems of aam aadmi. In fact, it’s commendable. The intent has not been seen in old-style political class so much. The BIG question is not about AAP’s intent but solutions / process, which are only self-serving. You can twist the solutions in alarmist rhetoric – that doesn’t make those solutions efficient. Does that not place you in the same category as other parties?
All this noise does get AAP a lot of attention though. But is that all they were after?
In the end, Somnath Bharti is a case of “attempt to become hero gone wrong” & Arvind Kejriwal is just being “all pride” – highly irresponsible.
#AAPDharna or #AAPDrama – you decide.
Political Analyst. Social Visionary. Editorial Journalist. Founder of open-magazine Indian Exponent.
But what is happening in Delhi at the moment under the umbrella of Aam Aadmi Party is not the demand of better police for the city – but the resignation of those police officers who refused to work according to the whims of Delhi Law Minister Somanth Bharti. Arvind Kejriwal couldn’t have picked a worse timing to demand the reigns of Delhi Police. It seems like, in the process of covering up the blunders of Somanth Bharti, Arvind Kejriwal is trying to turn the tables on police.
But for what? So, Somnath Bharti could ask the police to break the law again? Even if Khirkee extension is believed to be teeming with hookers and drug peddlers – who’re also black – what should be the process of punishing these “criminals”? Who decides the crime of these people? Are all black people staying at Khirkee extension automatically criminals?
How do you recognize a criminal? Do drug peddlers / prostituted have a certain look? Would you call every scantily clad woman a sex-worker? Would you call every marijuana-user a drug peddler? If your house gets robbed by a couple of, let’s say, men of Nepalese origin – does that turn the entire colony of Nepalese people robbers?
Racism breeds from the same generalizations – people of certain look, certain religion, certain origin, certain race – are a threat. Isn’t that what happened with Sikhs in 1984? Isn’t that why many of them cut their hair to mingle??
I’d like to ask Mr Somnath Bharti, that isn’t it possible that in the process of proving himself efficient and approachable may be he made the mistake of being prejudiced? Locals who complained to him – could be prejudiced towards a certain race – may be some of the Ugandans are engaging in the criminal activities. But aren’t some Delhiites (local north-Indians) too criminals? They could be Sharmas, Bhartis, Mohammeds – but can you make a rapid generalization? I’m sure there’re many white people in India too who engage in prostitution and drug peddling.
What you forgot Mr Bharti that common man of India (or aam aadmi) may be a victim according to your politics, but can be still socially regressive, racist and prejudiced. And he’s allowed to – because there’re all kinds of people and people are flawed. But you’re not allowed to subscribe to their prejudices. You can’t make snap judgments based on color or race. You’re as the law minister of Delhi are not allowed to lead a lynch mob in the middle of the night to arrest so and so woman – who maybe did something illegal.
According to Indian law, not only can a woman not be arrested at night – but even if she’s a prostitute she has to be treated like a victim. If according to you, Ugandan women are being trafficked to India – does that not make them victims? And what did your mob do? They harassed them and made them give a urine sample in public. You could say your party members didn’t do it – but who was leading that mob? You. Who bears the responsibility of people getting hurt in that process? You.
Arvind Kejriwal in his interview with Barkha Dutt said SHO left Somnath Bharti – and anything could have happened to him. I’d like to ask you Arvind ji, who is hell bent on refusing security for MLAs for making the symbolic statement? Had Somnath Bharti availed the security it’d have been there with him at Khirkee? It wasn’t the job of the SHO to provide security to Bharti. He can’t force police to illegally arrest on his whims in front of camera and provide him security at the same time.
Somnath Bharti should be appreciated to be responsive to the complains of the people – but he should have better judgement as the law minister and a lawyer. He ideally should have expedited the pending complaints with police. He could have planned this raid with the police better. He could have used the entire law and constitution machinery available to him to act on the complaints of the people. Id he had done that – he wouldn’t have picked up two random black women, he would have nabbed the actual criminals. It is also to be noted that sensitive raids are not covered by media, sensitive raids are not made for the audience. They’re planned so they are successful and efficient. Taking media with him – does make one doubt about the intentions of AAP ministers. Are they here to make long-lasting changes to the system or get cheap publicity by becoming the hero in individual cases?
How is the lynch mob justice of AAP any different than that of infamous Shiv Sena and MNS?
Later, Arvind Kejriwal is sitting on a dharna demanding the suspension of these policemen who dared to defy THE LAW MINISTER. Despite not having very high opinion of Delhi Police, one can’t miss that this protest has got more to do with covering up embarrassment and ego than actual police reforms.
Yes, the police should be accountable to the people. But how would that be achieved if police simply has to bend to the whims of the next minister? Other states do have police directly under them – does that make their police any more efficient or responsive or accountable? Have we not seen numerous top-cops tying the shoe-laces of local MLAs?
Not only the new Chief Minister of Delhi engaging in state sponsored chaos and causing a lot of inconvenience to the residents – but also, very un-strategically letting Delhi Police slip-by as a victim. His efforts are more about score-settlement with certain policeman and shielding his inexperienced ministers via rhetoric of “Safe Delhi”. He could have launched something a few days earlier when the Danish rape case happened. At that time he wanted to keep himself limited to fact-finding to “Why women are not safe in Delhi?”
Just by shouting “aam aadmi, aam aadmi” at Jantar Mantar doesn’t give you a high moral ground. Following the law and still making the difference does. Arvind has gone as far as arrogantly claiming himself to be AN ANARCHIST. Does he consider it complimentary? Is this the example he’s setting up for his party cadre? Which twisted Bhagat Singh fantasy is he living in? Lawlessness is not attractive for India in 2014, Mr Kejriwal. Efficient enforcement of law is.
It can’t be denied that the crime exists – but there’re two problems at hand, one, responsiveness of police, but the second new problem, mob justice. One wrong doesn’t cancel the second. It only makes the problem more complicated.
It’s not bad that you’re trying to solve the problems of aam aadmi. In fact, it’s commendable. The intent has not been seen in old-style political class so much. The BIG question is not about AAP’s intent but solutions / process, which are only self-serving. You can twist the solutions in alarmist rhetoric – that doesn’t make those solutions efficient. Does that not place you in the same category as other parties?
All this noise does get AAP a lot of attention though. But is that all they were after?
In the end, Somnath Bharti is a case of “attempt to become hero gone wrong” & Arvind Kejriwal is just being “all pride” – highly irresponsible.
#AAPDharna or #AAPDrama – you decide.
Written by Ishaan Mohan Bagga
Follow him on twitter @IshaanMohan
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