NEW YORK: The short trip by Indian Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal to New York was highlighted by his address to a gathering of students at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs on December 7. The session was moderated by Professor Alfred Stepan.
Kejriwal started his address by paying homage to Dr. BR Ambedker, who pursued his Ph.D. from this prestigious university spread over a huge campus in upper Manhattan, hardly four miles from Times Square.
For the better part of his 45-minute speech, the former Delhi Chief Minister talked about the performance of his government in Delhi during its short stint. The session was planned as a platform for interaction between Kejriwal and the students.
With students shooting a barrage of questions, the Mufflerman seemed at ease while answering them all with a constant smile on his face. He reminded the gathering about the foundation principle of Aam Aadmi Party and said that years of anger and frustration against the political establishment was canalized by ‘India Against Corruption’ and taken forward by the Aam Aadmi Party.
He also quoted a number of independent surveys and reports which showed a significant drop in the level of corruption in the national capital when Aam Aadmi Party was in power. He also talked about a number of reforms which were initiated by his government before he quit following a deadlock over the Lokpal Bill in the Delhi State Assembly.
Without holding back, the students asked a number of questions to Kejriwal ranging from Aam Aadmi Party’s top priority if and when they come back to power, its chances in the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi and much more.
Kejriwal said the people had been continuously showing solidarity towards AAP and the party would come back at the helm after the elections. He singled out health and education as his party’s top priority to convert Delhi into an International city. AAP also has started its ‘Delhi Dialogue’ with the aim of taking suggestions and views from the public on a number of grave issues including women’s safety in the city.
Kejriwal termed AAP’s brand of politics as ‘clean politics’. At a time when the major political outfits are vehemently opposed to disclosing the name of their donors, the Aam Aadmi Party set forward an example by publishing its entire donors’ list on its website and updating it in real time. He added that the financial integrity of the political parties is at an all time low, thus allowing ‘crony capitalism’ to seep into the economy and deepen its roots.
Responding to a question, he said that for him, development has to go through the common man. Empowering the Aam Aadmi is the basic step towards pushing for development, with the government acting as a mere facilitator.
He explained that development of a nation is dependent upon the strength and financial freedom of its common man and not on the richest who are sitting at the top of the pyramid.
To a student who seemed to be awed by Modi’s foreign policy achievements, Kejriwal did say that we need to look at the diplomatic achievements too rather than just PR achievements.
A student handed him over a manuscript of his policy research, while others seemed to be eager to give their opinion on law and order in India. A student touched his feet at the foreign soil, asking for his blessings.
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