Can Kejriwal’s AAP Turn India Back Into a Golden Sparrow?

New Delhi: At his sworn-in ceremony as Delhi’s chief minister about a month ago, Arvind Kejriwal pledged to provide a corruption-free government, suggesting that India could once again be a “Golden Sparrow,” or “sone ki chidiya.”

It might be too early to judge him, but his party has made certain moves that shed some light on his approach.

The AAP government introduced an anti-corruption helpline number 1031. Initially, it received over 11,000 complaints per day, but declined to about 1,500.

But dealing with this large number of complaints is a tough row to hoe. Even otherwise, a helpline may not be the solution for one of India’s biggest problems, i.e. corruption.

For example, there’s no provision for the security of complainants. And while it boosted the sale of spy cameras, there is only one forensic department in Delhi to investigate sting operations that citizens might undertake in their zeal to seek redress.

On the eve of the Republic Day, the chief minister said the officials are now afraid of asking for bribe, and that corruption has gone down by 20-30 percent – perhaps based on the number of complaints. But the truth could be that the common man is afraid of exposing acts of corruption.

The “common man’s government” claimed that 77 per cent of the complaints received were against police, who are not under the state jurisdiction. As a “solution,” Kejriwal staged a protest, which lasted for 33 hours.

The city witnessed chaos as Kejriwal’s supporters and officials tussled against each other, riot police were deployed and metro stations were closed to preserve public order during the protest. The chief minister received criticism from both the opposition and the people of Delhi. He responded by saying, “Some say I am an anarchist, that I am spreading anarchy. I am willing to agree to that.”

If the chief minister turns stubborn and comes up with a solution in the form of protests every time there is a complaint, the governance will be at stake and the city will be in turmoil.

Then, there is the promise of a Lokpal bill for Delhi.

It was pitched due to limitations of powers of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Central Vigilance Commission. Both the investigating agencies’ powers and jurisdictions are under the control of the Central government. The CBI is exempted from provisions of the Right to Information Act, whereas the CVC can proceed to take up investigations against government officials only after it is permitted by the Central government.

The Lokpal is independent and more empowering. But its success will depend on the government in office and the implementation of the Act. There has been a delay in its enactment, but even if it is passed in the near future, it would just be a first good step.

Above all, our judiciary works at snail’s pace and is believed to be corrupt. It is therefore indirectly more favorable to the criminal than the victim. As we know, Justice delayed is justice denied.

Kejriwal perhaps needs to be more practical in raising hopes among the people of Delhi and the nation. The solution to the cancer of corruption has to be holistic, and therefore a long-term goal. People’s expectations are otherwise.