THE BASTARD-CHILD OF INDIAN POLITICS, AAP, FIGHTS TOOTH AND NAIL TO WIN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

Why the AAP Bay Area Chapter is pitching in to make it happen!

By Meena Yeggina

10:30 pm Saturday night, January 28, Raja Restaurant, Union City, California.

 

It’s the final week of frantic campaigning and making that important phone call to Punjab/Goa voter; for that much-needed push when every vote could change the future of Punjab and Goa-two small states in India but crucial in deciding its future course of political leadership. Elections are around the corner, on the 4th of February, and the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party is contesting in both states and seemingly fighting the entire system to make a mark in the Indian electoral arena. If they win even one state, they would be creating history in being the youngest party ever to win two states (Delhi being the other) at such a short age. Furthermore, it would also be the only other party besides Congress, the major opposition party, and the ruling BJP to be currently governing more than one state. Both Congress and BJP are more than 50-years-old and are rooted in the system and allegedly, according to Kejriwal, take turns looting the country and alternately looking after each other backs as well. In addition to keeping at bay the vitriolic and vengeful political parties and corporations who are gunning for its destruction, AAP also fights against a biased and irresponsible mainstream media-witch-hunt which goes out of its way to dampen its spirits. So much so that a top TV channel, News 18, part-owned by the powerful Ambanis and ruling party’s supporter, brought out the controversial, and in AAP’s view “illegal,” Shunglu Commission report set up by Delhi’s past Lt. Governor Najib Jung to check the Government’s work in the last two years. This, just 48 hours before the crucial elections without any concrete evidences, shows the utmost bias popular media has against this fledgling AA Party.

 

“Is this even ethical?” wonder the volunteers of AAP here in the Bay Area. They bristle with anger yet set out on their tweets and facebook posts in strong support of AAP. According to several volunteers, Congress and BJP want to get rid of AAP to save their own skin, and meek media houses under the ownership of corporates are falling in line to sing their tunes.

“It’s this huge hopeful volunteer base, and the conviction of Arvind Kejriwal, AAP’s leader, that are the party’s major strengths. Otherwise the entire system is working against this youngest political party,” said Santosh Addagulla, AAP Bay Area Chapter’s founding member chapter’s treasurer. “Mainly because, AAP is incorruptible and is not funded by the corporate.”

He seems to take a lot of pride of that single fact. It’s not just Santosh, but hundreds of others in the Bay Area who are working for the success of AAP’s victory with a sense of courage and conviction, laughing off the allegations of them being radicals and terrorists.

These young warriors far from being “radicals” or “terrorists” are mostly engineers, restaurateurs, and even students. They see a lot of hope in AAP and Kejriwal, who they think is fighting hard against the system to make India better.

“AAP is like the poor, unwanted child of Indian political arena that questions everything that is established and corrupt fearlessly. That’s why almost every corrupt system from politics to media hates it,” says Mickey Sra, a passionate supporter of AAP. “Kejriwal is a simple man who thinks of the well-being of Punjab. He is not into politics for money.”

The minute you enter into the restaurant where young men and women are making calls to India in support of Punjab and Goa, you can see the energy woven by a killer instinct and hope amongst them. They did not like wasting time talking to me, instead wanting to make more calls so as to save every minute, making each vote count. Each had their own laptop, phone and other needed inventory like headphones. They all are mostly engineers and doctors and came together to birth one goal: Making AAP win Punjab and Goa, for a better India, an India they left behind in search of better prospects; an India they want to go back to, once AAP brings it back to normal living condition; an India they want to see dominant on the globe for its success stories.

Raja Sweets (restaurant) the current war room, is located in Union City, about 30 miles from where I live, San Jose. Owned by Makhan Singh Bains and Ravinder Singh Bains, it provides a cozy and convenient space for the volunteers to work in peace. The Bain brothers host them and the hospitality extends to sumptuous dinners, deserts and tea. This routine has been in progress for months now.

Why so much passion and urgency?
“Because Punjab needs AAP,” says Mickey Sra (Manpreet Singh Sra) who is part of AAP’s Bay Area Outreach team. “It’s been robbed of its prosperity by this corrupt combination of Congress and Alkalis. We want to bring back its pride.”

Can AAP bring that back to Punjab?
They all agree vociferously.
“Yes, I have been observing Arvind since the days of his activism, even before Anna Andolan,” said Santosh, who is originally from Andhra Pradesh. “He’s the best and what he is doing in Delhi is unprecedented.”

Prabhat Sharma, an engineer from Bihar, agrees. Even before he migrated to the US, Sharma began a school in Jammu and Kashmir with the help of an NGO. It took off very well but unfortunately was demolished during floods. “It was then that I realized the might of the Government. If a government really wants to it can build schools in six months, which an ordinary NGO cannot. This is what is happening in Delhi. AAP government under Sisodia is building quality schools left and right, and I am thrilled about it. If it comes to power in Punjab, it will grow literally as well.” Prabhat believes education is the key to real development.

The best part, however, of the war room is that volunteers, like Sharma, come from all over India –– Andhra, Bihar, Telengana, Punjab and Goa! They all work on one common aspiration: India deserves an intelligent and corrupt-free leader like Arvind Kejriwal and that the old and cozy political-corporate needs to be booted out.

Probably this is where the strength of AAP positions itself comfortably- its people base. Aam aadmi seems to understand that AAP is responsible and answerable to people and people only, as it is not being funded by the corporate and as such need not dole out any favors once it comes to power. Its very existence depends on its work that they deliver. In addition, many believe that a majority of AAP leaders are honest and don’t switch parties for money or power.

“See, barring one or two, AAP MLAs are not for sale, or the BJP would have bought them a long time ago. They are honest and want to do something for India,” exclaimed Mickey Sra, an energetic young Punjabi who is eagerly waiting for the results. “We are going to have a huge celebration after the results are announced.”

Mickey is very good at organizing fundraisers here in California with a raw Punjabi spirit that refuses to douse. He gets into an animated conversation with me about Punjab, AAP, and why Kejriwal must win for a better Punjab before Prabhat Sharma, another founding member of the chapter, gently reminds him to get on with making calls to Punjab.

Mickey quickly remarks before getting started again with his work: “ Look if Kejriwal delivers even 5 percent of what he promised, Punjab will be better than before. We are tired of the broken promises and lootings of Alkalis and Congress. AAP is definitely better than them. They are doing very good in Delhi with schools, free electricity and water and Mohalla clinics. We want them in Punjab too.”

Volunteers who are not Punjabis, such as Prabhat and Santosh who are from Bihar and Andhra respectively, feel that Punjab and Goa are lucky that AAP decided to run elections there. However, they truly believe that a day will come when after doing well in Punjab, other states would embrace it generously.

“AAP brought in a culture of asking questions and I love that. It’s making people aware of their rights as citizens. Its no ideology policy and equal treatment of all religions and sects is a great empowerment factor to minorities and majorities as well, in a healthy, accommodating nature,” said Prabhat Sharma.

It’s an impressive number of calls that this chapter indulges in each day. For example, Jaswinder Jassi Gill made more than 600 calls along with his wife. He had organized AAP calling campaign war room in his house for more than ten days. A large amount of volunteers went to his house and made 1000s of calls from his house, said Prabhat.

Dr. Iqvinder Singh Gill, a Veterinary Doctor in his 50s and AAP Bay Area chapter's convener, made more than 2000 calls in four days. Gill does not have any relations in Punjab and moved to the US several years ago. He is an ardent fan of AAP and wants to see a better Punjab. “Yes, I’d love to see Arvind Kejriwal as our CM but again whatever role he takes he will not let AAP down. He has a bankable history. He seem invincible and I love that about him,” explains the doctor.

All these robust foot soldiers of AAP are really just everyday people that work their jobs during daytime and join together at night to make those crucial calls to India encouraging them to vote for AAP. They patiently try call after call, explaining the benefits of AAP, cajoling and sometimes even lecturing. They get positive responses most of the time but do face brickbats as well. Yet they don’t give up.

“It’s actually very encouraging. From the kind of feedback we are getting from people we talk to (in Punjab and Goa), it looks like we are sweeping Punjab and are winning Goa,” said Mickey, and the others agreed.

While most of them are busy convincing people to vote for AAP, there are others like Jas Aulakh who downloads APP and is busy adding AAP logo to the twitter accounts of all and sundry. And he loves it! “I want to get as many people as possible endorsing AAP logo on to their twitter and face book accounts,” he beamed.

Almost all of them agreed that they moved to US in search of better opportunities as they were fed up with the corrupt and opportunity less situations in India and now see a new hope in AAP.

“If conditions were good back home why would we want to migrate?” asked Ramanpal Anand. “After seeing how easy it is in other countries we want the same situations replicated in India as well and we see it possible with Kejriwal and AAP.”

All around the war room, I can feel the hope brimming and pulsating out of control. Suddenly it seems, Kejriwal, by shattering the glass ceiling of corruption, prejudice and lackluster leadership, emerged as a sensitive, daring, fearless and incorruptible leader –– a real life lion heart, an ideal luminary. “He’s not scared of anyone or anything,” seem to be the common belief and trust. These young men and women (who are not present on this particular site but are visible on others) are hearteningly hopeful of their equally young leader.

Amidst all this excitement, two men in their early twenties, Maninder Pal Singh and Harchet Singh, who are part of the restaurant management, sit there, silently accommodating. They don’t make calls but support the volunteers by keeping restaurant open, supplying them with food and tea, until wee hours.

“Yes we want AAP to win,” said Maninder Pal Singh. “They are good people.”

“Mark my words,” echoed Mickey. “We will be celebrating soon here.”

Others cheered and beamed in agreement. And the hope is contagious!

About AAP and Arvind Kejriwal
An IIT kharagpur’s graduate, Kejriwal’s life is a zigzag of activism against corruption. His role as the founder of several NGOs to help the common man and his important role in Anna movement, which drew the world attention to him, are well known facts. In the process he bagged many awards including Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership, 2006, and Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kharagpur for Eminent Leadership. In 2014 Kejriwal was featured in 2014 Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world and in 2016 ranked 42nd position on the list and is the sole leader from India among world's 50 greatest leaders by Fortune (magazine).

One of the major criticisms directed at the Jan Lokpal activists was that they had no right to dictate terms to the elected representatives. As a result, Kejriwal and other activists decided to enter politics and contest elections. In November 2012, they formally launched the Aam Aadmi Party; Kejriwal was elected as the party's National Convener. The party name reflects the phrase Aam Aadmi, or "common man", whose interests Kejriwal proposed to represent. The establishment of AAP caused a rift between Kejriwal and Anna Hazare.

AAP decided to contest the Delhi Legislative Assembly election, 2013, with Kejriwal contesting against the incumbent Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Kejriwal became the fifth most-mentioned Indian politician on social media channels in the run-up to the elections. He won the elections with a resounding majority with a historic win of 67 Assembly seats out of 70. Since then he was successful to provide free water, electricity, free Mohalla clinics and free education. These four by themselves won him the hearts of many a poor. The rest is history.

If AAP wins Punjab Assembly elections this year, Kejriwal would yet again create history and could emerge as the main hurdle to BJP in the upcoming 2019 general elections and pose a serious threat to the current Prime Minister Modi’s position.

Our young volunteers here in California would make sure that they give it their all to make this almost phenomenal success story come true!

Interning at AAP’s educational wing under Manish Sisodia and Roshan Shankar is a life-changing experience.

By Sindhu Ravuri, Sophomore, UC Berkeley

When working with AAP this past year, I realized that revolutionary adopts diverse, modern hues. However, the one constant that must remain no matter what in any AAP-ian is a perpetual thirst for justice, and an acute awareness of one’s environment.

My AAP TEAM!

When I entered Delhi’s climate, I reeked of first-world privilege and naiveté. I quickly understood that inciting change in such a place, where shortcuts are instinctual and economic struggle plentiful, was severely intimidating. Where would you even start? As a woman in a sea of men, I also wondered how Indian leaders like Jayalalitha could muster the courage to actually help their community.

Working with AAP, however, changed my outlook.

When I entered AAP’s headquarters in the Delhi Secretariat, after seven floors of leers and judging stares, I finally met the men I would be working with. They all had different styles. Two (one policy advisor and another media strategist) wore jeans and a polo to work with Reeboks or sandals, another, my direct superior and advisor to Education Minister Manish Sisodia – Roshan – always wore nice slacks and a button-down, while yet another (Sukirti) changed it up every other day, each different from what I could have ever anticipated. Collectively, they all changed me, my outlook, and they helped me grow.

SERIOUS WORK DELHI OFFICE

I wish I could go back. What first felt like hell, staying in Delhi’s humidity, being stared at every turn, mumbling my broken Hindi, started looking up. I enjoyed going to work – seeing Happy’s exuberant smile first thing in the morning and hearing his great choice of music, hearing Roshan play enthralling classical tunes, discovering the parameters of choosing a career from Sukirti, and exploring all of India’s education system with Pranav – one of the most assiduous people I have ever met – are memories that are embedded within me. I finally understood how narrow my universe was, and also realized that not all men in India are chauvinists. They showed me how much of life there was left to live. When I look back, I don’t think a group of people impacted my persona as much as these men.

I applied for the position on twitter when I saw an invitation to volunteer on AAP website. Roshan, in charge of education outreach responded and accepted my position after an interview. It was as simple as that. Next thing I knew I was in Delhi interacting with top people of the government. At 18 at that time, I was youngest volunteer busy being part of educational research documents!

Meeting Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia!

Interning at the Delhi Secretariat — home of Delhi’s Chief Minister and some of its most imaginative, insightful, magnanimous political geniuses — was, strictly speaking from the perspective of gender dynamics, terrifying. I am the only female in the team: I was working on the exploration of the quality and quantity in technical education in Delhi. However, my terror as far as my team is concerned, was unfounded. My immediate boss Roshan Shankar, a Stanford alumnus, and my colleagues were amazing. They made me feel part of the team and my gender was never an issue. Meeting Manish Sisodia, the educational minister of Delhi government, was a dream come true. He is intelligence plus kindness personified. Until then I never knew Indian politicians could be so cool and so without any power dynamics!

That’s what AAP does – it embraces you as you are, and changes you for the better. They all don’t have to look or act like Kejriwal, in fact some of them have habits I hate – like smoking. But they are kind, compassionate, attentive, aware. I want to be just like them when I grow up. They are of the ilk that will change India. Can’ t wait to go back and work with AAP again! Yes, even without pay, just as last time!

About the Author:
Sindhu Ravuri is a highly motivated UC Berkeley undergraduate with extensive volunteering, medical, and leadership experience.

Her passion for writing began way back in middle school but was crystallized with her internship at the prestigious San Jose Mercury News’ Mosaic. Her article on child-sex trafficking received Merida Award for fearless reporting. At school she became the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the first ever WingSpan, a longform feature magazine. Previously she acted as the Business Editor(2012) and Global Editor (2014) to the School Newspaper Winged Post. In 2014 summer she got into the Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill Journalism program. Currently she writes for UC Berkeley’s Daily Cal and the prestigious Stanford’s BioCoder Magazine. She is an Active Voice Scholar 2016-2017.