For all the clamor that Mr. Arvind Kejriwal is raising about CBI raid, it
is nothing mre than a veiled attempt at garnering eyeballs, and underlining his
importance and relevance to national polity. Why BJP or Modi cannot have any
role in the issue is easy to identify.
- GST: It is common knowledge that Goods and Service Tax is one of the most important reforms that Modi and his team wants to see through. Modi and BJP or NDA would not do anything at this juncture to further jeopardize already beleaguered tax reform. It would be foolhardy to believe that Modi would give an issue on platter to Kejriwal, of all people, to raise a hue and cry and risk GST.
- Congress: Modi and NDA ministry had Congress and Gandhis on mat on National Herald issue. Modi is not the one to let off an adversary so easily off the hook. Just when the nation was ridiculing Gandhis for disrupting parliament, and public opinion was broadly gathering pace against Gandhis, present dispensation would not want to divert attention of people and media away from national herald.
- Corruption: After losing battles in Delhi and Punjab, once again the corruption and Gandhis became the central issue pushing aside all the talk of intolerance and the protests by award returnees. Why would Mod give lease of life to his opponents?
- Arvind Kejriwal: Delhi elections are off by more than four years, and parliamentary elections by more than three years. Kejriwal is no immediate threat to Modi or BJP. It does not make any sense for Modi to target Kejriwal now, and help him remain relevant to national polity. Knowing that his relevance would only strengthen his electoral chances in Punjab.
- DDCA: The current parliament session ends on 21-december, and six days delay in supposedly DDCA files would not have had material impact on any probe, with or without jurisdiction, that Delhi government may be conducting. Even if this were the purpose, the timing of the raid makes it hugely impossible.
- CBI: The investigation relates to pre-Kejriwal era, and hence cannot cast doubt on Kejriwal’s claim to probity. Shiela Dixit has now largely become irrelevant in national politics or even in Congress. So if Modi or BJP initiated raid proceedings; it’s poor sense of timing, unlikely with Modi.
So why did Kejriwal react the way he did?
- Because that’s what he knows best. For the upcoming elections in Punjab, there is a desperate need to play victim, and hide his failures behind the garb of political victimization. Taking the protests to PM’s door is what helps him hog prime-time attention. With his antics, he remains the most talked about CM in India. While it is no secret that there are many who have been doing great work in their respective territories – CMs of Tripura, Orissa, MP and Bihar (to name a few) have positively impacted the fate of their respective states, without the theatrics.
- While the raids were not meant to investigate Kejriwal’s regime, his reaction makes one wonder – is there something to worry about?
All said and done, Congress must be grateful to CBI and Kejriwal for deflection
of spotlight from their leaders.
