Colonial Cousins: Kejriwal & Vijayan?

 A recent headline read: "Setback for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal as President Ram Nath Kovind gives assent to NCT Delhi (Amendment) Bill". Let's give the present CM of Delhi the benefit of doubt, and not knock him out. He may be right. However, there's a difference — in the CM's chair and Mr Kejriwal's position as the supreme leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. Let's delve deeper.

The 'disputed' bill will enhance the power of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (L-G) — that's what is said, and is the bone of contention. The Houses of India's Parliament, notably, had already passed the bill. It was cleared in Lok Sabha (lower house) on March 22 and Rajya Sabha (upper house) on March 24.

 

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi has been against the National Capital Territory (NCT) Bill and its chief Arvind Kejriwal called it Bharatiya Janata Party's assault on democracy and federalism. The CM also took to his official Twitter account and replied to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, who also vehemently opposed the Bill. Mr Kejriwal asserted, "Thank you Pinarayi Vijayan for supporting the people of Delhi against BJP's assault on democracy and federalism." Here, it appears as if the supreme leader of AAP has levelled serious allegations, unless you see it coming from the CM?

 

Is Pinarayi Vijayan, aware that his own 'house', the state of Kerala, is not in order? It's a well-established fact that the intelligent, versatile and industrious Malayalees are spread across the globe, and majority of them dread to work or conduct business in Kerala...less said here is better! Mr Vijayan is known to blow the 'anti-communalism' trumpet — Great, and it sounds good! But along with his brethren, he's strongly influencing and imposing the 'communism' theory and governance, which is at loggerheads with democracy!

 

A critical Vijayan had stated, "Government of NCT of Delhi Bill is an affront to our federal principles and rights of States. Restriction of the constitutional authority of democratically elected State Governments and violation of Supreme Court's verdicts should be resisted. BJP has a colonial mindset."

 

We all know the meaning of 'hypocrisy' and 'double standards' (in relation to type of governance), so let's not get there. Coming back to the person in distress, aka Kejriwal, is he the people? Is AAP the people? Or, let's put it this way — is AAP going to rule Delhi for eternity? If not, will not this 'disputed' bill be applicable to other parties in power? Unless it'll be amended as per convenience and based on the party in power!?

 

Taking all this into consideration, as a writer, I'm 'concerned' about the headline. Hence, the two CMs, championing the cause of democracy are 'Colonial Cousins'. Hopefully, musicians Hariharan and Lesle Lewis are not offended.

 

And yes, cricket is on my mind too, even though I agree that 'Greatbatch' doesn't rhyme with 'Setback'. However, I see a strong connect. In this 'Setback' scenario, it appears as if the Hapless or Helpless (You, the reader can decide) Kejriwal is being hammered the way New Zealand's Mark Greatbatch would batter and thrash the fielding side. He had also vanquished the Indian team, probably in the Benson & Hedges World Cup. And the CMs here are batting for India, hence the parallel.