The flamboyant Chief Minister of Delhi, who received national attention during his short stint as an activist during the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, was arrested on the 21st of March on charges of corruption and money laundering.
The Anna Andolan which presented Kejriwal as a nationally recognised political figure, is often considered a pivotal point in the fall of Congress as the dominant party in India. But, today leaders of Congress protest hand-in-hand with AAP to rescue Arvind Kejriwal, the alleged "false charges" raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) without any relevant evidence. Activists and political theorists, including Prashant Kishore and Romilla Thapar, have raised concerns about the misuse of bureaucratic agencies by the central government to arm-twist the opposition parties including those from the INDIA alliance of which AAP is a member.
This is the very first time, for a sitting chief minister to be arrested by a law enforcement agency. The surprising arrest has ignited a firestorm of debate and speculation regarding its implications for the broader political landscape and the state of democracy in India.
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"At the heart of Kejriwal's arrest lies a fundamental question about the health of India's democracy and the protection of freedom of expression. The use of state agencies to target opposition leaders and silence dissenting voices undermines the principles of accountability and transparency, which are essential for the functioning of a vibrant democracy," says Rudra Prabhakar Das, a student leader of Jadavpur University and member of Aam Aadmi Party. Kejriwal's detention, just ahead of the elections, raises suspicions about the timing and motivations behind the action, fueling concerns about the misuse of state power for political purposes.
Furthermore, Kejriwal's arrest highlights broader challenges facing democratic institutions in India, including judicial independence and the rule of law. The refusal of immediate protection by the Delhi High Court and the subsequent arrest of Kejriwal underscore the limitations of legal recourse in safeguarding the rights of individuals against arbitrary state action. The erosion of trust in democratic institutions resulting from perceived political persecution threatens to undermine public confidence in the rule of law and the legitimacy of the government in power.
Kejriwal's detention has the potential to deepen political polarization in India, exacerbating existing divisions between supporters and opponents of the ruling government. The AAP leadership has condemned Kejriwal's arrest as an attempt to stifle opposition voices and suppress dissent, framing it as a battle for the soul of Indian democracy. Conversely, supporters of the ruling party may view the arrest as a vindication of their anti-corruption stance, further entrenching their allegiance to the incumbent regime.
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The strategic implications of Kejriwal's arrest extend beyond immediate electoral calculations to the broader dynamics of Indian politics. With Kejriwal sidelined, the AAP may face challenges in maintaining its momentum and rallying support against the ruling establishment. Mr. Kejriwal is the fourth Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to have been arrested in the case, after former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha Member Sanjay Singh and the former party’s communications in-charge Vijay Nair; while former Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendar Kumar Jain was arrested in another case. "If the ED had evidence of corruption, it should have taken the case to trial on a war footing. Keeping the accused in jail, while investigators continue their roving expedition, should be unacceptable in a society ruled by law. When the accused are political opponents of the ruling party, the arrests will be seen as selective enforcement of the law and impairs public confidence in democracy itself." read the March 23 editorial of 'The Hindu'.
However, opposition parties may seize this opportunity to capitalize on public discontent and position themselves as viable alternatives to the incumbent regime. The vacuum created by Kejriwal's absence could incentivize opposition parties to articulate a coherent vision for governance, leveraging disillusionment with the ruling party's policies and leadership.
In conclusion, the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal represents a critical inflexion point in Indian politics, with far-reaching implications for democracy, governance, and political discourse. It underscores the urgent need to safeguard democratic institutions from encroachment and uphold the principles of freedom of expression and accountability. The aftermath of Kejriwal's arrest will test the resilience of India's democratic fabric and its commitment to pluralism and open debate.
"Mr Kejriwal himself rose to national prominence by campaigning for an all-powerful agency that would obliterate corruption from public life. He and his band of anarchists challenged a constitutionally elected government through mobocracy and amplified conspiracy theories such as notional loss to the exchequer more than a decade ago. Mr. Kejriwal himself is now ensnared in the logic that he once popularised. This is the wheel of democracy, what goes around comes around." wrote Karan Thapar in a recent opinion piece.
Moving forward, it is imperative for Indian society to reaffirm its commitment to democratic values and norms, resisting attempts to undermine the rule of law and suppress dissent. Political leaders, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens must unite in defence of democracy, holding the government accountable for its actions and demanding transparency and accountability in governance. Only through collective action and unwavering commitment to democratic principles can India overcome the influence of aggressive and divisive right-wing politics that has taken the Western world by storm.
(The author is a PR professional. All views and opinions expressed in the article are the author's own)