AAP Rejects Imam's Support

[Star Wars]

Give credit where it is due.. AAP did what we all wanted political parties in India should.. Its a great move by AAP..my respect are for them.. When was the last time a political party reject support from a religious figure?

post no. 24

 

[Guynextdoor2]

How BJP Killed Its Chances in Delhi

(Siddharth Varadarajan is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Affairs and Critical Theory, Shiv Nadar University)
As Arvind Kejriwal's campaign in Delhi surges ahead, it is hard to miss the desperation and panic that has taken hold of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its national leadership.

The party's local leaders - many of whom resent the manner in which the high command imposed Kiran Bedi as their Chief Ministerial candidate - may have reconciled themselves to defeat, or at best a slender victory margin, but Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, who realize the stakes involved, are making every effort to stop the Aam Aadmi Party from winning. So far, however, their '3M strategy' of throwing Modi, Money and Mud into the fray has not had the desired effect.

Despite the crores spent on saturation advertising, the campaign rallies addressed by the PM and his 'hawala at midnight' allegation against AAP, Kejriwal's party is comfortably ahead in virtually all opinion polls.

How did the BJP's script go so terribly wrong? After all, it won the largest number of seats in Delhi December 2013 and all seven Lok Sabha seats last May. Given the prestige and popularity enjoyed by Modi, this election was meant to be a cakewalk. Especially since the AAP had the handicap of Kejriwal's ill-advised decision to resign from the Chief Minister's post after 49 days in office, which coloured the public's perception of the party and its ability to govern.

If the BJP finds itself fighting with its back to the wall, it has only itself to blame.
The first mistake Modi and Shah made was to delay the holding of assembly elections. Even though it was clear that a government could not be formed without engineering defections from the AAP and Congress, the BJP used its influence over the Lieutenant Governor to string out the process. What the BJP hoped to gain is not clear, but the delay clearly helped the AAP re-establish itself as a fighting force.

Fuelled by its victories in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the BJP then made its second mistake: to avoid declaring a strong Chief Ministerial candidate and rely instead on the 'Modi wave' to see it through. Though this strategy did not work so well in Maharashtra, where the party failed to win a majority, or Jharkhand, where an expensive alliance with the All-Jharkhand Students Union was needed, the Haryana result emboldened the BJP to play the Modi card to the hilt in Delhi. Where earlier the party had a strong and credible de facto CM candidate like Harsh Vardhan, voters this time around were encouraged to back a faceless campaign and trust in the magic of the 'Modi sarkar'.

When this strategy came a cropper - the very first rally addressed by Modi turned out to be a flop - the BJP brass changed tack and decided to project a credible local face to counter the appeal of Kejriwal. The selection of Kiran Bedi seemed at first to be a masterstroke. But as the former police officer hit the election trail, it became apparent that her attractiveness did not extend beyond the party's traditional middle class vote bank. Indeed, the goofiness of some of her pronouncements has alienated even middle class supporters, while her imperiousness has rubbed party cadres and local leaders the wrong way.

The BJP has tried to correct this third mistake by committing a fourth - getting Modi and senior party leaders to make personalized attacks on Kejriwal and to accuse the Aam Aadmi Party of money laundering and hawala. The allegations might have had credibility if the BJP did not itself take more than 60 per cent of its declared contributions in cash without providing any details about the donors. In the absence of any attempt by the Enforcement Directorate, the Income Tax authorities or the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to probe the shell companies that are supposed to have donated Rs. 2 crore to the AAP last April, many in Delhi will likely treat the allegations as a desperate smear campaign.

The Modi card may also now be facing diminishing returns, as voters tire of seeing the Prime Minister's face at every street corner and in every newspaper, and of hearing his voice on the radio.

The election in Delhi is significant because it represents a pure political contest between the BJP and a rival that is strong and not discredited by corruption, or hobbled by anti-incumbency. If the BJP loses, the result will provide proof of concept for a model of politics that could also emerge elsewhere in India. Modi has so far remained unvanquished, winning every election battle he has led since 2002. Losing Indraprastha will destroy the aura of invincibility that has stood him so well for 12 years.

Even if Modi manages to win Delhi for the BJP, the fact that he had to fight so hard ought to make him stop and think about what he is doing wrong. The campaign by the Sangh Parivar against a family-oriented film with a strong positive message like PK, or the communal statements of Sangh activists and leaders, is not something that attracts young voters with aspirations for a better life. Yet the Prime Minister has kept quiet, reinforcing the belief that he backs their divisive agenda. His failure to actually do things on the ground for the poor has also reinforced the perception that the BJP is a party of the rich and elite. If Modi does not fix these two problems quickly, his political ride is likely to be uphill from here on.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

 

[isupportaap]

https://twitter.com/x/status/563653487913734144

 

[Guynextdoor2]

If you have to talk to me..and expect a response then type properly without expletives.

Secondly, I will only have a discussion with rational people, not those blinded by absolute hate...or absolute adoration.

I'm sure rejecting the most liberal philosophy summarily does not make you blinded by absolute hate.

 

[isupportaap]

shanghis Can BJP refuse support of Dera Sacha Sauda, Ramdev, VHP & most imp RSS?

 

[Judge]

@Judge ........... there you go

Interesting..it does dampen my respect for their action.

That said, I will reserve my judgement till more details come out. I am however still impressed that they publicly chided the Imam for his support though.

 

[Ind4Ever]

That's how it's truly secular. No support from any communal groups at all. If only others had this much of spine.

Reject Imam Bukhari's Pledge of Support, Says AAP Ahead of Delhi Polls


New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has rejected a vote appeal in its favour by leading cleric Syed Bukhari for tomorrow's elections in Delhi. The BJP says AAP is "rattled by the Imam's fatwa."

"We don't need the support of a man who did not invite India's prime minister but invited Pakistan's PM on his son's anointment. One has to respect the Prime Minister of the country," said AAP's Ashutosh after Syed Bukhari, who is the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, appealed to all Muslims to support AAP and "form a secular government in Delhi."

The party's Ashish Khaitan alleged that Syed Bukhari's politics "is regressive and communal," and added, "AAP wants to finish off communal politics. We want to finish off what Imam stands for. We want the support of every common man."

Minutes later the BP's Nirmala Sitaraman said, "AAP said on donations that we didn't ask for the money, someone gave. This is what is happening with this fatwa issued by the Shahi Imam."

Tomorrow's election is expected to be a close contest between AAP and the BJP, which fielded PM Modi in a blitz of four rallies in five days this week, where he made a focused attack on Mr Kejriwal and his party.

Last year, the Imam had sent out an invitation to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif for a ceremony to appoint his son as his successor and had said that he was not inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The host decides who to invite. And I have no place for Modi in my heart," Syed Bukhari had said.

The appointment as Imam-in -waiting of 19-year-old Shaban Ahmed Bukhari also ran into controversy, with the Wakf board challenging it in the Delhi High Court. The court had observed that the Shahi Imam's move "has no legal sanctity" but had not cancelled the ceremony.

AAP Approached us for support Says Tariq Bukhari BREAKING NEWS

 

[Guynextdoor2]

AAP Approached us for support Says Tariq Bukhari

Of course he'll say that now there's egg on his face. What did you expect, he'll say sorry I'll reform my politics?

 

[Prometheus]

@BJPTARDS ...........and Blind Bhakts....................plz answer , Is it "OK" for BJP to take support of so called nationalist Party having militants in it , who openly say they are militants and against India..........and accused of drug smuggling???

 

[isupportaap]

AAP doesn't need any imam or any baba. This is a ploy to polarize hindu votes for BJP only

 

[Ind4Ever]

Sale Bhagoda wala .Using Muslims like his puppet . Same like congress wali. .. Zabardas

 

[Prometheus]

AAP Approached us for support Says Tariq Bukhari BREAKING NEWS

here is a OLD news for yeah ....................BJP and Akali DAL partner up for Delhi elections ....

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Interesting..it does dampen my respect for their action.

That said, I will reserve my judgement till more details come out. I am however still impressed that they publicly chided the Imam for his support though.

Of course he'll say that now there's egg on his face. What did you expect, he'll say sorry I'll reform my politics? He thought he'll get some mileage like Mamta and TMC by declaring his support, and then got an embarrassing rejection. He thought they'll welcome his support because of muslim votes and they asked him to screw himself.

 

[OrionHunter]

This Bukhari fellow should be hung by his balls. He is totally communal. In the last general elections 2014 he openly asked Muslims to vote for the Congress. Now the AAP. So what has changed?

This bugger is a chameleon gone berserk.

 

[NKVD]

That's how it's truly secular. No support from any communal groups at all. If only others had this much of spine.

Reject Imam Bukhari's Pledge of Support, Says AAP Ahead of Delhi Polls


New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has rejected a vote appeal in its favour by leading cleric Syed Bukhari for tomorrow's elections in Delhi. The BJP says AAP is "rattled by the Imam's fatwa."

"We don't need the support of a man who did not invite India's prime minister but invited Pakistan's PM on his son's anointment. One has to respect the Prime Minister of the country," said AAP's Ashutosh after Syed Bukhari, who is the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, appealed to all Muslims to support AAP and "form a secular government in Delhi."

The party's Ashish Khaitan alleged that Syed Bukhari's politics "is regressive and communal," and added, "AAP wants to finish off communal politics. We want to finish off what Imam stands for. We want the support of every common man."

Minutes later the BP's Nirmala Sitaraman said, "AAP said on donations that we didn't ask for the money, someone gave. This is what is happening with this fatwa issued by the Shahi Imam."

Tomorrow's election is expected to be a close contest between AAP and the BJP, which fielded PM Modi in a blitz of four rallies in five days this week, where he made a focused attack on Mr Kejriwal and his party.

Last year, the Imam had sent out an invitation to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif for a ceremony to appoint his son as his successor and had said that he was not inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The host decides who to invite. And I have no place for Modi in my heart," Syed Bukhari had said.

The appointment as Imam-in -waiting of 19-year-old Shaban Ahmed Bukhari also ran into controversy, with the Wakf board challenging it in the Delhi High Court. The court had observed that the Shahi Imam's move "has no legal sanctity" but had not cancelled the ceremony.