When I confronted Arvind Kejriwal

‘Indian politics is full of rapists & murderers’

‘Politics is a game of money & muscle power ‘

‘Generally those people join politics who have nothing else to do in life’

These words have been ringing in my ears since I developed my power of thought. Politics in India is a dirty game. A profession meant for crooks and criminals. An educated youth from a non-political background can dare think of joining politics. Go to any school or college, ask the students what career they want to opt for, there would hardly be anyone to say, 'I aspire to join active politics'.  Individuals inclined towards society cannot choose politics as the path to work for the people. Contesting elections is so expensive that you cannot hope of winning it until you adopt illegal means. Politics is a profession of the rich and powerful. This violates the basic essence of democracy, which says that any individual above a particular age can contest elections and become an elected representative.

This sad scenario of contemporary Indian politics motivates me to join the muck and make an effort to cleanse it.

I am aspiring to join electoral politics since the age of sixteen but haven’t been able to accomplish it so far.

I contacted different political parties, also made an effort to join them but the experiences were such that I thought its better to stay out of it. I met one of the General Secretaries of the Congress and expressed my desire to work for the party. Her warm welcome did impress me for a while. But, when the time came to serve the people, she was seen nowhere. Politicians make big promises but don't act upon it. Such experiences dissuaded me from joining any political party. I also thought of contesting as an independent candidate or joining a small political party like the one by Shiv Khera. But analysing the significance of these independent candidates & smaller parties, I realised they get lost in the filth.
However, the journalist inside me also started investigating the movement in and out. I communicated with all ranks and categories of people within and outside the movement. I interacted with members of the core committee, employees of Arvind Kejriwal’s NGO, full and part time volunteers, journalists, critics and most importantly the aam janta (common people). This made me aware about the loopholes in the movement. When I questioned Arvind Kejriwal about the lacunas, my voice was not heard.
I confronted Arvind Kejriwal at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi on 20 Feb 2012. It was a meeting called to motivate student leaders to join the movement. But, the meet didn't happen the way Arvind wanted. Listening to me, the students also became curious and started posing tough questions to Arvind. My questions remained unanswered. I was aggrieved and went to the extent of calling Arvind Kejriwal an agent of Congress party. I thought this movement was also a part of the larger conspiracy by the powerful class.

I was the President of the Students Union of my college. Paying heed to my elders, I joined a journalism course and got a job in media. But the seed of joining politics within me kept on growing.

Then came the magnificent Anna movement. I attended the protests held in April 2011 at Jantar Mantar. I was awestruck to see the spirit of the movement. I started participating regularly in the activities of Team Anna. I had become a blind follower of the cause. Being a journalist who is expected not to take sides, I became a volunteer for India Against Corruption (IAC). I kept my journalism at stake, sacrificed my sleep, food & personal life, ignored my parents, friends & well-wishers and had become mad about the movement. I thought this was the only way to cleanse Indian politics.

That was a time of trauma for me. I went to my hometown Bhopal without informing anyone. I thought my life was under threat, my phone was being tapped. I travelled in general compartment, troubled my parents, siblings, friends and everyone close to me. Thankfully with God’s grace, everyone supported me in coming out of my ordeal. My office understood my pain and gave me a week’s off. My parents patiently heard me even when I was talking rubbish. My siblings were very loving and caring. My friends and well wishers were beside me and prayed for my welfare.

Arvind Kejriwal with whom I was fighting is a man of great inspiration. He forgave. I met him in person and tried understanding the generous soul within him. 

With these and many other experiences of my short journey of life, I want to work for reforming Indian politics.