1. AAM ADMI PARTY: A Revolution in the Politics of India.

    Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian social activist and a politician. Kejriwal is a
    graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, where he
    studied Mechanical Engineering. He is a former Indian Revenue
    Service (IRS) officer and former Joint Commissioner in the Income Tax
    Department. He is well-known for his role in drafting a proposed Jan
    Lokpal Bill and his efforts to bring and give effect to the Right to
    Information (RTI) act at the grassroots level.
    Kejriwal won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in
    2006 for his contribution to the enactment of the Right to Information
    Act and for his efforts to empower the poorest citizens of India. In
    2006, after resigning from the IRS, he donated his Magsaysay award
    money as a corpus fund to found an NGO, Public Cause Research
    Foundation. In 2012, he launched the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
    The Aam Admi Party completed a year on 26 December 2013. With the
    election scheduled on 4th January 2013, Delhi is burning in a political
    fire. Who shall win this time? Would it be the experienced BJP and
    CONGRESS, or the revolutionary AAP candidates? The fate rests in
    the hands of the Indian voters. The political situation is abuzz in Delhi,
    with campaigning at its zenith.

    Let some interviews with the Aam Admi party volunteers give you the
    pulse of the moment:

    • A face to face interview with Aditya Gautam (a volunteer) working in
    the Aam Admi office at Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Q-1: What was your passion to join the Aam Admi Party?

    Ans: The idea of “Swaraj” or self-rule, struck me recently. I think the
    flaw doesn’t lie in corruption, it is in us. I idealise Arvind Kejriwal. His
    clear vision, honesty touched me. Arvind has magic in him. He has the
    potential to establish himself and I am with him.

    Q-2 : “Swaraj” is a very idealistic concept, what is the practicality you
    see in it?

    Ans: Yes, I do accept that there are problems associated with it. This
    concept may seem idealistic now and would take 15-20 years to get
    implemented and integrated. Although it is a long process, it shall be a
    fruitful journey.

    Q-3: The Aam Admi Party has its own website. It is connected to
    Facebook, Twitter, online registration as a volunteer of AAP,
    thunderbolt campaigns. Technical panache in a political party is a new
    concept in Indian politics. Please Comment.
    Ans: Well, indeed! Arvind Kejriwal is from IIT (Indian Institute of
    Technology). Being from a technical background himself, I think it’s
    quite natural that technology is being used in the AAP. Many of our
    volunteers are also from technical backgrounds.

    Q-4: Throw some light on the selection of candidates.

    Ans: What MLAs do isn’t rocket science! The process of candidate
    selection here was looking for decent managers. The process was
    fairly simple and we selected the candidates who stood out best in
    managing skills. People who would handle the society from the bottom
    to the top; not view it from the top to the bottom.

    Q-5: Honesty is the keyword in AAP. What would happen if people in
    your party become corrupt?
    Ans: This is where the Lokpal Bill comes into picture. We plan to
    pass the Lokpal Bill even before they can even think of getting corrupt.

    Q-6: Don’t you think that is a loophole?

    Ans: No, it is the plug in the loop hole. We want to work towards
    ending corruption and promoting decentralization.

    Q-7: In the Lokpal Bill proposed by AAP even the Prime Minister of
    India can be questioned while in office. Do you think this approach is
    right?

    Ans: I believe in making a country where no one gets away with
    anything. He/she being the Prime Minister of the nation is more
    accountable to be answerable to the public. Questioning him should
    set an example for the whole nation.

    Q-8: In the Lokpal Bill proposed by AAP the NGOs are not
    questioned about the donation money they receive. Why so?

    Ans: The NGOs, I think, already come under the RTI (Right to
    Information) thus there is already transparency. Plus the NGOs are
    already working for a good cause so there is a soft corner for them.

    Q-9: How was your experience in the AAP and how has been the
    journey so far?

    Ans: Initially I was working in a hotel as I had completed my HM
    (hotel management) degree. But a year working in the AAP cannot be
    taken away. I worked in the active campaigning as well as with the
    central team managing all the online data.
    I also worked with Sunil in “Aap Ki Kranti (Your Revolution)” i.e., the
    newspaper started by us. Printed in Chandigarh it is distributed all
    over Delhi. We print whatever the Indian media isn’t covering.
    We have started a campaign “Play for a Change”, in which a couple of
    guitarists along with some volunteers sing songs and distribute
    pamphlets thus spreading awareness about the party.
    We also publish articles that show that the surveys conducted online
    are genuine and we have a strong chance of winning.

    Q-10: With the elections just round the corner, what would you like to
    say about AAP getting stuck in controversies?

    Ans: Our Chief Editor Gopal Sharma told me almost three months ago
    that this would happen. But I didn’t believe him then; I do now. Paid
    journalism has laid its dirty hands on us and is playing tricks!

    Q-11: What message would you like to give to your countrymen and
    women, as an AAP volunteer?

    Ans: It is a do, or a die, situation. I wouldn’t want to be in a country
    which is so depressing to live in. Every day we walk into lavish malls
    and fail to notice the plight of people sleeping right next to the malls
    on the streets. Why are we so blind? I want change! Otherwise it would
    be really depressing to live in such a country.

    • Face to face interview with Deepak Singh (an AAP volunteer) actively
    campaigning outside the metro station (Rajiv Chowk).

    Q-1: Where are you from?

    Ans: I am working in Chandigarh in Infosys but my
    hometown is Delhi.

    Q-2: What has been your moving force to be in AAP?

    Ans: Actually it has many answers. First of all I am fed up with the
    system; that is the biggest cause. I want my system to be more
    accountable. And I need it to be people sensitive. That is why I do not
    think that the current establishment is competent to deliver it, but the
    AAP definitely is. That is why I am supporting it.

    Q-3: So you believe in it?

    Ans: Yes. I definitely believe in the AAP. They have chosen good
    candidates. So far whatever they have done is in the national interest.
    It is all ethical.

    Q-4: Your belief is a blind belief or do you think it is a very practical
    belief?

    Ans: It is very practical. Look, the reason that I believe that the model
    of “Swaraj” can work is because I work in a company myself. There
    most of the things are driven by people. I feel that if people are given
    charge they can take decisions which are in their best interest.

    Q-5: The AAP being a new party among the experienced BJP,
    Congress and other political parties. Do you see it as a disadvantage
    or advantage situation?

    Ans: Well, I see it as an asset. We are new to politic but full of energy.
    And when you talk about experience I don’t think experience counts
    much in the face of intentions. So as long as the person’s intentions
    are correct he/she can do the work of a politician. He/she is not
    necessarily supposed to be technically aware but he is supposed to be
    close to the pulse of the people. For that you need honest intentions, a
    clear vision and the willingness to implement it.

    Q-6: How is your experience standing outside the metro station and
    campaigning for AAP; especially when you are from the IT sector and
    spend most of your time sitting and work in front of the computer?

    Ans: See, the biggest thing is that there is a lot of energy around
    among the people. You do not get the feeling that you are doing
    something out of place. It is something which the people want. It is
    something which people are inviting with open hands so you
    automatically stand out.

    Q-7: How long have you been a part of this process?

    Ans: Active campaigning; I do it whenever I come to Delhi on
    weekends.

    Q-8: So you come all the way to Delhi from Chandigarh for
    campaigning?
    Ans: I have to come. It is nothing out of place that I am doing. I feel
    the urge so I HAVE to come.

    Q-9: What would be the message you would like to give to the
    Engineers that would provoke their typical mind-set or make them
    think?

    Ans: What I would say is that in life there are multiple things which
    are important. At some point of time family is important; at some point
    of time your job is more important; sometime your health is more
    important and similarly your society is equally important.
    Because if any one of these falls out you are definitely going to be in
    trouble as an individual or as a community. So it is important to take
    out time for your society so that things work out as planned. If an
    Engineer you don’t get a satisfactory job in your country it is certainly
    going to impact you and your family. So we should do something
    about it rather than just hoping someone would do something about it.
    I just want people takeout some time and do something like just
    sharing statuses on Facebook or standing outside the metro station
    campaigning even fighting elections it’s up to the motivation of the
    person. But they must do something about it otherwise nobody else
    will!

    Among the hustle bustle of CP (Connaught place) a group of
    young men stand gossiping with "I want swaraj" topi's (caps) on their
    head. A couple of foreigners crossing the street are smiling; they are
    wearing the AAP topi (cap) on their head. The auto driver, sweeper,
    vendors serving burgers everyone seems to have the AAP Topi on
    their head. The message is loud and clear "I want Swaraj (Self-Rule)”.
    Walking towards the AAP office at the 41 Hanuman Temple Road,
    Connaught Place will draw a smile on your face. Whether or not you
    are a supporter, the ambience makes you happy. Groups of people are
    standing with AAP Topis asking anyone passing by to accept them,
    some are discussing about the upcoming elections, and autos parked
    nearby contain posters of "broom" i.e. the election symbol of AAP.

    FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW WITH MR. KARAN SINGH (a volunteer)
    inside the CONNAUGHT PLACE OFFICE IN DELHI. Stepping inside the
    office you will find posters, pamphlets, banners all ready to be sent to
    various parts of Delhi. People from all age groups, both educated and
    uneducated, make it to the AAP office in CP (Connaught place).

    Q-1: What has been your motivation to be in AAP?
    Ans: AAP has given me a platform. I used to work earlier also in the field of social service since my student life.Arvind kejriwal's mission is to bring swaraj.Before the revolt there wasn't any credible face to follow and look up to. The search of a leader was on and arvind's leadership is what we were searching for. A platform not only for me but for every common citizen of india.

    Q-2: AAP is more technology oriented. Do you think that because of
    this the old generation is lagging behind in joining AAP?
    Ans:
    Since the party started you will observe that there has been an increase in
    volunteers above the age of 45 years. Although more of the youth is
    associated with us right now. But it may not be visible at the moment
    but we are trying to include people from the older generation as well.
    There are some examples of people above the age of 80 years, who are
    also here. Some uneducated youth and the elderly who never use the
    internet are here.

    Q-3: Removal of corruption and bringing swaraj. Don't you think that
    it is a very idealistic concept?

    Ans: Before joining I wanted to know the ideology of AAP. The
    concept of swaraj is idealistic right now but would be practical in the
    coming years. As the RTI (Right to Information) Act has made an
    impact, the Lokpal (Ombudsman) Bill will too.

    Q-4: Please tell us more about the candidate selection procedure.

    Ans: Candidates were selected by filling a form along with all your
    details. Then shortlisting was done. After that background checks
    were done and AAP volunteers conducted a voting session in their
    areas and most popular candidate was chosen. Two things were
    ensured that the candidate shouldn't be corrupt and loose in
    character.

    Q-5: How is AAP different from the other political parties of India?

    Ans: People associated with AAP are working without any salary they
    just have thoughts of change and social service in their mind. It is a
    group of self-motivated and selfless people with a hope in their heart.
    The revolutionary leadership of Arvind is with us.

    Q-6: AAP is a new party, please comment on the recent
    controversies the AAP is facing.

    Ans: We haven't done politics but we have seen it.I think we will be able to establish ourselves in indian politics.

    Q-7: If Arvind Kejriwal is the strongest link of AAP, then what is the
    weakest link?

    Ans: Well, the decorum of the people associated with AAP. This
    needs some attention. AAP is a fairly new party and work should be
    done to establish stability among the members. The process of
    conducting presentations and seminars for the people associated with
    AAP to tell them about the ethos of the Party is essential.Establishment of a proper code of conduct should be
    done for the AAP volunteers. A culture is lacking right now and it
    needs to be worked upon. Although people associated with us are honest.

    Q-8: But Sir is honesty enough?
    The use of negative language by Kumar Vishwas (an AAP
    candidate) is not justified when he said that he keeps the Padma Shree
    (an honour award given in India) on the tip of his shoe.

    Ans: No,
    establishment of a culture is lacking. we need to develop that.
    Whenever any volunteer joins AAP. i always tell them that they should
    keep Arvind in their heart whenever topi is on their head.

    Q-9: Please tell us about the work taking place here in CP.

    Ans: It has become the main centre of our campaign because Arvind ji
    is living here.There is arrangement for people coming from other
    states. a lot of work is being done here because of the greatest
    connectivity of this office with other areas of Delhi. Active campaigning,distributing
    AAP topis to whosoever is willing to accept one, setting up of banners,
    distributing pamphlets etc., is taking place.

    Q-10: What is your message for the public from the side of AAP.

    Ans: The effort which should have been made earlier is taking place
    now. I have never voted in my life because i couldn't find the right
    person to vote for. The public of India says candidate of BJP is
    corrupt, candidate of Congress is corrupt, and who should I vote for?
    But now they should not let this opportunity slip away from their
    hands.

    PRAGYA KAPIL
    Student Journalist