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© 2012 Sanjeev Sabhlok's revolutionary blog
From what I've heard about Arvind Kejriwal's personal style (from those who know him personally) he is an extremely undemocratic person. In particular, once he has made up his mind, no one can change his mind. He makes a sham of "listening". A pretence. In particular, he does NOT engage with anyone who questions his approach.
I don't know how far these allegations are true, but this much is 100 per cent true, that Arvind Kejriwal – despite his promise to reply to my emails and to read my book – after I made the effort to go and meet him, has not responded even once to my emails.
He has surely been busy but it is IMPOSSIBLE for someone to be so busy that he can't reply to at least 10 emails over the course of over four months. That too, after promising to engage through email!
It does appear that Arvind Kejriwal is STUDIOUSLY AVOIDING me, since I am honest and clear enough to question his approach.
Had I fawned over his ideas, he would have surely been keen to get me on board.
At least that's the tentative conclusion I've drawn. That's not a good look, Arvind.
Under these circumstances, it is hard to stomach his alleged "appeal":
"Arvind Kejriwal asked the public to suggest a name for their political party, its structure and manifesto" [Source].
Is this an HONEST appeal? I'm not sure.
I've already explained to Arvind a NUMBER of things over email and through blog posts (apart from the 20 minute meeting I had with him in February).
In brief, he should NOT talk about forming a party without making clear what it might stand for. And Lok Satta already exists. There are others, as well.
Party means NOTHING. Only ideas matter.
I'm going to send this blog post by email to Arvind, and suggest that:
a) He commit publicly to only ONE goal: liberty, with accountability
b) He commit to INTERNAL DEMOCRACY (i.e. he will ONLY have ONE vote and his competence will determine how far he rises in the "party")
c) He commit to philosophical agreements and detailed policy being agreed by ALL those who'll contest elections under the banner of liberty.
That, by the way, is precisely what FTI is doing. It is a 100 per cent democratic body, committed entirely to liberty and good governance, and is working out (among its members, being those who'll contest elections) the relevant philosophical agreements and policies.
This is hard work, Arvind. It is not as simple as saying: "I've written a book Swaraj, now you all just follow me".
Sorry, Arvind, you and I can (along with 1000s of others) actually reform India's governance, but not if you are going to make a PRETENCE of consultation.
I don't think you are serious. You have NOT BOTHERED TO EVEN RESPOND ONCE! How can that be!
I've been in this space of political reforms in India since February 1998, nearly 14 1/2 years now, and have seen one failure after the other due to shabby strategic thinking.
Your attempt to bulldoze your "Swaraj" on India will fail.
You MUST begin this journey by realising that you have virtually NO IDEA about good governance and good policy. You haven't spent thirty years studying this subject. You are a novice. Admit it. Humility is the first step.
Then learn. Then debate. Ask questions.
I'm NOT asking you to accept my ideas uncritically. Challenge my ideas. Make me prove why they are relevant and sensible. Then make up your mind.
In any event, you must not rush into this business of politics, at pain of failure. You will fail. Even I will oppose you if you continue down the socialist, undemocratic path you seem to have chosen.
You must pause and undertake a serious DEBATE.
If you are HONEST about your stated goals for India (not for yourself!) then you'll respond now, to this blog post (email) and will stop talking about starting a new political party till the basics have been hammered out and organised.
Are you HONEST, that is the key question now.
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Related posts:
- Let the parliament of India resign. It has no authority to serve notice to Arvind Kejriwal.
- My meeting with Arvind Kejriwal: a picture gallery
- Would FTI join Swaraj Party if Arvind Kejriwal agrees to support liberty (with accountability)?
- Arvind Kejriwal, you say that you are willing to listen to better ways to fight corruption? Then here they are
- Arvind Kejriwal, now you have stepped well out of order
- Anna Hazare totally reverses course. Arvind Kejriwal in trouble.
- FTI member Somnath Bharti represents Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal and Swami Agnivesh in CWG case against GOI
- Copy of my email to Arvind Kejriwal outlining support, but asking for a real alternative
- Some thoughts on Arvind Kejriwal’s model of governance
- Two ex-public servants from India. Two different models. Who is right?
To spread the message of liberty and critical thinking, please share this post
Arvind Kejriwal, I trust you are HONEST about your request for public input http://t.co/ImdLnRhi #india #politics
Arvind Kejriwal, I trust you are HONEST about your request for public input http://t.co/9M9RZyx1
Arvind Kejriwal, I trust you are HONEST about your request for public input http://t.co/ImdLnRhi #india #politics
If you are so sure that you are addressing to Arvind Kejrival in this blo (Email), then please stop publishing it over here. You should’ve directly sent him an email.
Secondly, your subject line is completely negative to what you have written in your article. As a reader, this has created a -ve impact on me.
Third, you have included BOLD, CAPITAL & COLOR HIGHLIGHTS, showing your grievance directly on Arvind and has once again created a negative impact on ppl who read your blog. Rest is what ppl will decide on what you have written.
Sir,
It was enlightening indeed. But I just need a clarification regarding forming a party. As of now a common man (which includes me too) has lost his hope in both the ruling and opposition parties. But we don’t have any other option at present, as they dominate in the vote bank. I voted for a person who contested independently who actually willing to serve the society. But he lost and he failed to get even 200 votes. The reason is people are not aware of him and to say it in simple he didn’t have any brand name behind him. If Anna Hazare/ Arvind Kejriwal forms a political party and if a option is given to the person as I mentioned, there is a good chance that he might win as he has a brand behind him.
Whats the problem in this? Instead of begging the leaders who back/forced to back the corrupt. Why can’t give a try to bring a change? Let the service minded honest people step forward. Let those who keep them away from voting come back to vote.
Sir, If am wrong. Kindly enlighten me.
Sir,
After reading your characteristically blunt missive to Arvind Kejriwal, I am satisfied that you have gone out of your way to encourage “Team Anna” to adopt your holistic approach to set India on the path to true freedom. I am very disappointed to note that Arvind has not bothered to respond even once to your several emails despite the fact that you met him personally. I think that is downright rude if nothing else. However, I am still not ready to write-off ‘Team Anna’ if only because I’d rather be optimistic in the all-pervading gloom. The thing that gives me hope is their public commitment to holding widespread consultations. At the same time I am painfully aware of the vice-like grip that ‘socialistic’ thought holds on even the intellectual strata of Indian society. I am apprehensive that the kind of advice that Anna and his team will overwhelmingly receive will be heavily laced with socialist objectives thus vitiating and negating the whole effort. Even if advice in the right direction is received, if what you apprehend about Kejriwal (that he only pretends to listen and doesn’t bother to objectively evaluate the advice received) is true, then that would only hasten the demise of ‘Team Anna’ as an agent of change.
Arvind Kejriwal, I trust you are HONEST about your request for public input http://t.co/JstELdOK via @sabhlok @janlokpal
Dear Mohamed
I’m not in the business of begging or secretly pleading with anyone. I am in the PUBLIC space and will speak transparently and openly about what I wish to see for India. Hence no, I do not secretly send emails on matters of national importance.
Re: the negative impacts. That, again, is not for me to bother about. For those who don’t have the time or patience to read my work, to understand my overall goals, any fleeting impressions formed could either be positive or negative. That is the nature of communication.
The fact that you’ve experienced a negative effect doesn’t mean I’m saying something wrong. It may just be that I’m too busy to finesse what I’m saying. Or that you don’t like to have the truth pointed out. Don’t know what’s the issue. Do try to read my book, BFN if you haven’t yet read it. That might help you form a clearer picture about what I’m trying to say.
s
Dear Sanjeev,
I find your ideas very impressive – very professional & convincing.
But, where is the need to engage in this duel with Arvind? Do u feel he is your main rival to get public space outside the congress & BJP domain?
Why dont you develop your own following & not bother about what Arvind is doing?
You can charter your own course – i am sure your ideas are good & public will latch on to them – the street tactics & the media space that Arvind has obtained is phenomenal & may be the result of a well-planned strategy to mobilize the Aam Aadmi against the corrupt system – you can devise your own strategies in your own professional way.
If you cannot synergize with Arvind because of policy or other reasons, there is no reason to attack him, at least, not yet.
We would like to see different people work for a common goal(that too, if we can all see a common goal) on different tracks & avoid intercinine clashes.
Best wishes,
Chandra K Jain
93124 39464
I am not duelling, but merely trying to demonstrate to young blind followers of Arvind’s socialist rubbish, that there may be value in keeping their minds open to others.
I have tried many times to engage with Arvind. He doesn’t care to engage. At least his followers should be shown an alternative path to socialism.
But let’s be clear. I am strongly going to attack socialist ideas – regardless of whom these come from. I firmly believe that socialism has destroyed India. I can’t sit back when anyone preaches such rubbish to India. Arvind naturally gets caught up in this process, as well – along with other socialists.
I have not hesitated to comment on socialist ideas of BJP/Lok Satta or anyone else either. These are my personal views, and people are free to take them or leave them.
Note I DON’T want “followers”. Ever. I only want people who think for themselves.
s