ArpitGarg's Weblog

I felt real bad to see Kumar Vishwas at the verge of crying in front of the media. I have been a fan since my college days, when his “Koi Deewana Kehta Hai” motivated me to become a poet. Kumar, like any other other Hindi Poet and stand up comedian, is attached to the grass root. They have to as that very grass root gives them the material. He has a cult following among college students and his romantic recitations have created quite a few romeos over the years.

Like a lot many of you, I supported AAP when they came up as an anti-corruption alternative. I supported Modi, when he gave us optimism. I even supported Rahul Gandhi when he pushed through the Nuclear Deal way back in 2009. I am mentioning this to clear my no-so-clear political leaning. When Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were expelled from AAP, it didn’t concern me much. They didn’t have a volunteer connect anyways; were more of boardroom politicians.

But Kumar Vishwaas is a different story altogether. He is one of the rarest breed of people who find acceptance and respect cutting across party lines. Reason being, he has still not become a wily politician. He speaks what is right, not what is right for his party. He stood his ground on Surgical Strikes, Demonetization and praise for PM Modi when due.

I would not say that Kejriwal committed a sin, or has become a corrupt leader, no he has not. A young politician, he is still trying to find his feet. He was correct in assessing that unless they win a state other than Delhi, they would not be able to show results. Had AAP won Punjab, things would have been different. But I am happy that they lost. In a bid to win, Kejriwal compromised on means this is what has hurt his image. Agreed that BJP was not letting him work, but his approach of bad mouthing a popular leader went against him. The loss in Punjab, has presented itself as an opportunity for him to course correct.

Kumar Vishwas is what is required at this point. From an anarchist (whom people supported), Kejriwal’s image became that of an opportunistic leader, who can play even with national security. And he himself is to blame. AAP needs a change and Kumar Vishwas can bring that. It won’t be a major change mind you; it would be going back to the roots of the movement. Hope the tears of Vishwas clean up the dirt that has sullied the once great movement.