Problems in AAP

With all that was going on in the last week in AAP, I had written to Arvind and received the following mails. They are worth reading.

Dear Arvind,

Let me first wish you a speedy recovery so that you can return and continue to serve the people of Delhi with increased vigor.
I  believe in God and I know whatever He does is for our good.
Having said that, I would also like to convey that the events which have unfolded in the last few days has saddened and got all the AAP volunteers and well-wishers worried and agitated.
When I first started reading of news reports of differences within AAP I was of the opinion that these differences were manufactured by the PAID media to defame AAP and I consistently in my blog and FB maintained the same. However, the news became louder and more persistent and then it was out in the open with the meeting of NE on the 4th.
If you go through the FB remarks of AAP supporters you will notice that AAP has split vertically between two groups - one for Yogendra Yadav + Prashant Bhushan and the other for Arvind Kejriwal. This was evident from the result of the voting on the 4th. 11 members voted for the expulsion of (YY + PB) and 8 for the Non expulsion. 
This is creating quite an acrimony and mistrust between the two groups which is aggravated by interviews given by members which is lapped up by the PAID media.
The twitters of some of the members has definitely widened the mistrust between the two groups.
Why don't our members remember that one Shashi Tharoor lost his job because he had very fast fingers for twitter. Unless a person has anything good to say of a person, he should not use twitter, especially if there is difference in opinion.
Nobody has ever won a twitter war but it has created bloodshed.
When we select our candidates you invite opinions from the public regarding the character of the candidate and have even replaced candidates when found inappropriate.
I feel that this situation would not have arisen had we taken into consideration the doubts raised by a very senior member, Shree Prashanta Bhushan regarding some 10 candidates whose names are now out for all to see. I agree that there may not have been charges of "Heinous crimes" against them but that is splitting hairs. With the high standards AAP has set for itself, our candidates should not only be technically honest but also appear honest to the general public. I am afraid, we have failed on this account.
Regarding Yogendra Yadav's case, it seems the dispute seems to have arisen because of perception of whether AAP should stand for elections. There is again a vertical split among AAP volunteers whether we should stand for elections in Punjab and Bihar. Where we are depending upon our large volunteers base which you yourself have admitted, don't you think we should take them into confidence before taking these decisions. If you had done that, then this problem would not have risen.
We, at AAP are fortunate that we have a large data base of volunteers cell phone numbers where you could obtain their views within 48 hours through SMS. We should start taking the views of our volunteers more often if we are to retain their interest and support. On all important points we could hold a referendum.
We are supposed to be different from the other parties in our transparency too. We have a website, a FB site and twitter account and yet our volunteers were kept in the dark during the whole affair. Every morning and evening I visited our Website and FB site to see if there were any comments from AAP but there was nothing. We have to depend upon the PAID media who distort and present the news. Why?
We have a very good communication network which was demonstrated during the Delhi elections. Why is the network not utilized so that our volunteers are kept abreast with the latest developments regarding important matters? Why do we have to depend upon filtered news?
The ideas which you have presented in AAP are revolutionary wherein a person like me who is 68 years old and have never been a member of any political party has been drawn in. I was born after India achieved independence and the corruption I was seeing since my college days made me happy that here was a party which could change India.
We people  support AAP because we know in spite of its faults, it is still better than the other parties. There is just no comparison.
However, the feeling is slowly creeping in that selfishness and pettiness is creeping into our party and the finger is being pointed to you in spite of all the sacrifices you have made to build the party. People are saying that if you could forgive a person who had slapped you why could you not forgive the person who may have strayed slightly and who has been the face of AAP in the media?
Just before going for treatment, you had said that you do not accept the decision of NE in removing YY & PB. It was a very good statement. I would suggest you develop on the statement and cancel the whole meeting which was held on the 4th, declare it null & void.
Let tempers cool down and the staus quo remain as before the meeting. 
You had asked for forgiveness from the Delhi people for leaving Delhi government in 49 days.
I suggest, you apologize to Prashant Bhushan for not giving due weight age to his comments regarding the 10 candidates against whom he had doubts. In school we were always taught that saying sorry, genuinely, is not at all difficult when you realize that man is not infallible. Everyone makes mistakes. If it clears bad blood, it is better to say sorry and make up.
Regarding YY, I suggest you again apologize to your volunteers for taking a unilateral decision without consulting them. I would suggest, we build up a data base of cell numbers of our volunteers in Bihar and Punjab. We could then have a referendum as to whether we should stand for elections there. Personally, I think we are not prepared for Bihar but could go in for the Punjab elections. 
Unless you make up with your volunteers who are vertically split, you will have difficult even governing in Delhi for the very people who have voted for you will now oppose you. Please involve them in any important decision. 
Remember that is what Swaraj means in practice.

Wishing you again a speedy recovery and a long  fruitful life for we all believe you are the best person for India.

Jai Hind,

Radheshyam Sharma

From Hidayatullah Khan

दिल्ली चुनाव में आआप को मिली अपार सफलता के बाद हाल ही में हुए घटनाक्रम से बहूत आहत हुआ हूं । और प्रशांत भुषण जी और योगेन्द्र यादव जी के PAC से इस तरह निष्कासन का विरोध करता हूं। वैसे तो मुझे नही लगता कि ये दोनों किसी के खिलाफ कोई षड़यन्त्र कर सकते हैं फिर भी एक पल के लिए मान भी लूं कि ऐसा कुछ हुआ है तो भी इनकी सेवाओं को देखते हुए इन पर हुई कारवाई गलत है। इन्हें चेतावनी दे कर भी इस मसले को टाला जा सकता था। PAC में बैठे २१ NE को ये नही भुलना चाहिए उनके द्वारा उठाये गये हर कदम के साथ पुरे देश के कार्यकर्ताओं की भावना जुड़ी होती है। आपके द्वारा लिए गये अहम फैंसलों में उनकी भावना का ख्याल रखना चाहिए । मैं राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी को एक सुझाव देना चाहता हूं। ऐसे किसी भी फैंसले से पहले अंततः देशभर के जिला प्रभारीयों को विश्वास में लेकर उन से भी रायसुमारी का प्रवधान रखें ताकि वो अपने-अपने क्षेत्रों के कार्यकर्ताओं को मामले की गंभीरता से अवगत करा सकें । इससे देश में पार्टी के प्रति अस्थिरता उतपन्न होने के खतरे से बचा जा सकता है।

अंत में आआप के शीर्ष नेताओं से मेरा विनम्र निवेदन है कि अपने फैंसले पर पुनरविचार करके देश के करोंड़ों कार्यकर्ताओं को अनुग्रहित करें।

Jayesh Atmani

The volunteers are not being clearly told why this happened. Now volunteers will wait to watch whether this happened for good or bad. Before knowing the official justification , volunteers won't come out for AAP.

We are all waiting for something, isn't it ? Let's burn our hearts and keep hopes alive till we can, let's watch for sometime. We don't have 1000 AAPs, we have only 1 AAP. Wait for AK to return to Delhi. Even I can't wait more. But let's have hopes for sometime. Media says that the way YY and PB were removed was humiliation. Someone in AAP says , If the reason for their removal is made public , they will face more humiliation . but whatever has happened, has happened among those 20 PAC people. Hardly any of them represents us, the volunteers. Let's wait to know whether they really intend to keep volunteers away from this ...

I have had long talks with those who justify in detail the reason for Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan s removal. Also with those who can debate it with a long explanation how some Delhi team people r trying to hack AAP by getting these people out, also with some neutral people. I only want to say that this is a sensitive issue and please do not use out of line words for anyone in this case. This is a matter of time and belief for us. Please understand that even your reasoning to be on some side hurts other volutneers and its really very very sensitive. Please try to wait and watch and be calm about this....

Bir Bahadur

AAP ab chaapluso ki party ban gayi hai hai.

maine 500 rs aap ka banne ke time diya aur 500 rs jab AVAM AK par iljaam laga rhae the.

Ye Khetan aur asutosh sabse bade chaaplush hain.I have lost respect for chamcha group including sisodia.

Ankit lal to dekhne se hi chor lagta hai.

Happy Holi to all volunteers!!

Thanks for overwhelming response and support for fight against injustice..Till now 956 volunteers have liked this page and shown their solidarity with the fight against injustice..I have been expelled from AAP official group for fighting injustice without any notice..Jab YY and PB jaise logo ko use n throw kar diya to hamare jaise volunteers ki kya ijjat hai..Don't leave AAP official group..We need to fight injustice done by PAC on 4th March 2015..Please LIKE and SHARE this page in AAP official group..No. of likes should be more than this page by tomorrow to show solidarity with YY and PB
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-YY-PB-Back/1616618518550023

ashish khetan ki mail id hai kya.

anjana om kashyap ne sahi mein uski auakat batayi thi

Jay Agarwal

4 साल में बनी जिनकी आस्थायें 24 घण्टे में हिलती हो वो आस्थायें न रखें तो बेहतर.कुछ समय और शर्म-लिहाज़ सबके लिए अपेक्षित है
#HappyHoli

Radheshyam Sharma Ji has echoed my sentiments, and I am quite sure those of most of us, to the dot.

The sentiments expressed by Arvind in public do not match the outcome of the 04 March meeting. It is unfortunate that he could not be present at the all important meeting to steer the outcome to a rational and logical conclusion.

I implore Arvind Kejriwal and all concerned to please follow the recommendations of Radheshyam ji for India's sake. The crucial experiment of "politics with a difference" to attain Swaraj for the Aam Aadmi has just begun and must succeed. Failure is not an option for the sake of our future generations.

Best,
Ashok Sawhney

Medhavin Goyal

Hi, we might disagree with our leaders on many things, and it is possible that they are wrong, but that does not give us a license to abuse them. Please desist from such behaviour.

Anup Marathe

Right. Let's not shift from extreme fan to extreme hater. Though there are some wrong decisions...Let's fight it out with logic and constructive steps. And remember that our AK is much better than bjp and congress despite some faults. Some say I will leave aap. Then my question is - how will you then fight bjp n congress. How will bring out change.

K Singh

Dear Mr Sharma,

I liked your letter and the feelings that you have conveyed. I have not read about Prashant Bhushan's 10 distrustful candidates yet-- pls provide me the link if possible. 

But in a way though the National Executive voting was wrong, it is how Yogendra Yadav has taken it and how he reacts (in a calm and dignified manner as usual). He and Prashant Bhushan (infact all 3 Bhushans--i don't know Shalini's strengths though )are still very good people with a lot of unique strengths that they bring to AAP or to the cause of good values which is what sets the notion of AAP apart from others. 

Pls remember whatever happens, happens for the best. It is how we perceive and react to it which makes it wrong or right. The PAID media has already tried to create a wedge between AAP wellwishers and supporters by twisting the story and we must not let our emotions get the better of us. 

The people who have caused this debacle (in my limited knowledge of the whole thing) are Naveen Jaihind and Ashish Khaitan. I don't know about Ankit Lal or Dilip Pandey or others. All this information is from facebook, twitter or the media or the emails which people have written in response to your message.

This event will cause the non performers or hidden backbenchers like Naveen Jaihind to showcase their capabilities in the public speaking area. I doubt if there is anybody in AAP who can talk as well as YY and I hope Naveen Jaihind falls flat on his face in trying to be the public spokesperson of AAP. In my opinion besides YY, only Kumar Vishwas and Bhagwant Mann or Professor Anand or Atishi Marlena can speak really well and handle the OVERAGRESSIVE or biased MEDIA . Dilip Pandey has never been able to talk well in TV debates etc. Gaurav Chopra is ok in public debates on TV. Alka Lamba comes across as a person from a poor background and unable to articulate herself well.  Ashish Khetan has done blunders by tweeting that the Bhushans have tried to control the whole party-- he looks immature  and may have been coopted to oppose Prashant Bhushan and by extension Yogendra Yadav. I agree with Mayank Gandhi about how the whole thing was handled but it was good to know how the voting went and who are the fence sitters (who abstain or go with the crowd) and who are the real problem solvers and who are the perpetually dissatisfied problem creators with low self esteem and who will create more trouble in the future.

Anyway all of us will have different reactions to the whole thing. Arvind Kejriwal is quite sick and i give him benefit of doubt. His health is precious and giving Delhi on a platter (without any real powers and with huge expectations generated by the media and by the AAP campaign itself) is a way to destroy AAP by the status quoists. The PAID media employs one of its favorite weapons--first build up huge and unfulfillable expectations of the public without telling about the limited powers or constraints in reality faced by the new players in the existing system and then demonise the media created STAR within no time. That is why AK is saying that it will be very difficult for him to prove the media's GAMEPLAN wrong if he is not able to deliver good governance in Delhi within this term alongwith his failing health. Somebody else should take the mantle of organising in Punjab and elsewhere-- that is where the others know that it will be a very very tough job to organise the Punjab 2015 or 2016 0r 2017 state election (the election could be preponed also). 

We must not lose sight of the larger picture of carrying on the fight against bad governance--the AAP will evolve. This is just the beginning. We must be steadfast in supporting the fight for whats right and go about it in our own ways. If we can help the AAP directly, it would be good but even indirectly AAP can be helped--we only have to think how to align ourselves in that direction. People won't change but we can change as we have more control over our thoughts and actions.

I think the whole tamasha is similar to organised religion --where narrow minded bigoted illiterates think their way of worshipping GOD is the RIGHT way and all others are fools while GOD quietly lets them remain in their states of ignorance and fighting ways.

Let us hope for the best. The churning in AAP while Arvind recovers will push up new wannabes and more people will know who has what strengths etc and who are liabilities.

Let us do our job in improving AAP's capabilities in our own ways and HOPE FOR THE BEST.

Regards,

Kussh

Sudhendu Giri

In short: No doubt,these all are wise and respected people. But, 1 thing is not understood, why they are innocent about the difference between self-interest and large-interest? As we know, when all media, all other party members are against of AAP, this sort of childish development how much damage can do..don't they know that../already done. I don't know, whether this was the only intention/aim of YY/PB by going public!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simply pathetic identity. Yes, principles/policies could be different, but why in public relevance? Simply unexpected. And people seems are greedy to come to any tv reporter and say anything!!! What is this? You know latest technology twitter, but don't know what you know and what you are writing!!! Very novice!!! I'm not comparing any other parties with AAP(as AAP is still in 0, while others in -100), but only academic qualification/knowing to use whatsapp/facebook/twitter doesn't make a person educated until you know what&why you are doing...

In present condition, if somebody doesn't come ASAP with more maturity...this chaos will get more popularity. If all AAP active  volunteer can take lesson from this and remove this sort of childish mannerism, then only AAP can run long.

Thank.

Satyaki Dasgupta

Arvind is not going to read your mail. He is power hungry. Don't blame media. Don't feed media with saucy news. It is unthinkable that Kejriwal silenced his critics with brute force. Why did he skip the all important meeting?

Avijit Bose

Dear Radheshyam,

Couldyou pls send me the email id's of Arvindji, Yogendraji and Prashantji. I am a member of AAP and also like to keep my views.

 Let us all pray more for a better AAP and corruption free India.

regards
Avijit Bose 

Anamitra Chatterjee

Dear Radheshyam Ji

I was waiting for a email from your end in this regards.I have already conveyed my support to Yogendra Yadav and Mr Bhushan Ji and we are also planning a mass appeal to protect transparency in  our loved party.

Agnel Pereira

Dear Sharmaji,

I am writing this in my personal capacity - as a founder member & active donor of the party.

Your concerns are most valid, and reflect the same across the board, and with mine too. But please note that currently, due to this illogical decision taken by the NE (of ignoring volunteers), currently the leaders have gone into a hiding, not able to show their face! You must have seen how Manish Sisodia avoided the media the other day!

Perhaps these so called 'leaders' have a belief that by not talking about it and by running away and letting the time pass, an automatic solution might emerge!!! New Leadership style for you!

However, I must say that you are a bit optimistic - our supreme leader does not have time for 140 character tweet to make amends, will he ever be able to read your multi-page monologue?

Its time we volunteers show these leaders a good response - by continuing as just plain members/voters, being not available for any future political campaign, and instead use our time productively for reaching out to the society through some initiatives.

With best regards

CA Agnel Pereira

Biswajit Majumdar

It is indeed important not to get into high-command culture within the last hope (i.e. AAP) that we have..

Honest people should remain united in order to fight the larger and powerful corrupt forces.. and I strongly feel that Prashant Bhusan and Yogendra Yadav should be given due respect and be brought to the PAC.

Regards,

Biswajit

Nitin Gupta

Well your last statement seems a little out of context, volunteers came out for their country and for better future of citizens' and not just for AAP. 

AAP is a medium not the goal.

But I agree with your gist, as after looking into the statements and the points put forward by team and volunteers who worked hard for Delhi, this is the pic I got, which I am summarizing in the table below:

Points	YY, PB, SB	AK + Supporters
Want to make India better by getting rid of bad politics?	Yes	Yes	No difference between the two
How to achieve above	By fighting and contesting wherever possible and soon become nation wide. Defeat won’t demoralize party or volunteers.	By strategically fighting and focusing on winnable places first and convincing people that AAP can win and govern better	They differ in strategy. To me AK+’s method seems better if you look into the warfare history of the world
AAP should have contested in Haryana and MH for assembly election	Haryana yes, MH may be	Definitely No, and they had majority in decision making	I think No was the right thing to do, else Delhi wouldn't have been possible
Accepted the above decision by Party?	Yes, but didn't like it and were not convinced	Yes and followed it
Tried to dilute the AAP's image to decentralized perceived power of AK?	Yes, they thought it was because everyone follows AK’s words not his reasons. So seems like they tried to dilute the AK’s image a bit (via various ways)	No, they were convinced by the strategy and were hopeful it will work better.	I think YY, PB, SB should have accepted from heart the final stand taken by the party
Worked day and night for Delhi elections’ win?	YY (most likely yes), PB (most likely no), SB (no and acted against AAP)	Yes, had put all their energy and soul into it
How and why tried to dilute AK’s image/perception that he and his think-tanks are good strategists?	If AAP loses or doesn't win Delhi, then the strategy team will be seemed as weak and their future arguments will not carry as much weight, and YY/PB/SB may have more say in strategy making moving forward	N/A	To me this indicates high intelligence, but which sometime underestimates enemy’s devil nature (BJP here) and prefers big piece of small pie over small piece of big pie.
Was the PAC action needed?	No sure	May be Yes	I think one strong message was important, but their removal may not have been required. But good thing is  they may concentrate on other better roles now and let strategy be with those who have proved themselves so far
Can YY/PB/SB and AK+ work together?	May be	May be	I think they should. Its not just for AAP but required for India
Do they follow Party'sofficial Democracy and decisions?	Seems not, if not convinced	Yes, but most of the decisions are as per them, as they are in majority. But they do work very hard, with conviction and are very active.

Btw, beware of Media stories many of them are just purposefully and out of proportion misleading - seems like they just trying to dilute AAP.

Kind Regards,

Nitin

On Fri, Mar 6, 2015 at 11:40 PM, K Singh <triveni.2com@gmail.com> wrote:

There is a saying from Abraham Lincoln

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

Arvind Kejriwal is in failing health. Also it will take him a long time to recover--diabetes is not an easy disease to overcome-- it clouds judgement by raising/decreasing the blood sugar levels in the brain. He will be incapacitated for quite some time.

Till the time he recovers and comes back, the power vacuum created and the HUGE expectations that Delhi AAP has been forced to FULFILL without giving the REAL state of LIMITED powers of the UNION Territory of Delhi--will make it very difficult for Manish Sisodia and his team to provide good governance in DELHI with the hidden backstabbers in the central govt playing spoilsport.

Naveen Jaihind has now come out in the open against Yogendra Yadav. YY and PB both have unique strengths which i doubt anybody else in AAP has now. Let us wait and watch the new faces of the caretakers of AAP. Much will be learnt about them by their actions when they come to positions of AUTHORITY--whether as PARTY SPOKESPERSONS or other areas.

I hope somebody else starts ORGANISING for the PUNJAB 2015/2016/2017 assembly elections (since they could be preponed) because that is the ONLY way good governance will start ARRIVING in DELHI and Delhi will be granted statehood faster. Finance and Administration are not going to be easy jobs to handle for the AAP Punjab campaign and AFTERwards the governance training required. 

The PAID MEDIA will continue to create disaffection among the ranks--that is the whole objective of the media weapon employed by the status quoists. Those having smartphones could download the official AAP app from google play store (there are many clones put by rivals to frustrate wellwishers/sympathisers/volunteers of AAP) and the newsfeed from the app needs to be IMPROVED--more volunteers may be required to build this social media arm of AAP.

Let us observe how we REACT to such CRISIS. OUR problem is that we want AK and others to behave in a certain way without changing our own behaviour in EFFECTING CHANGE at our own level towards good values.

Let us remember JOHN F Kennedy's saying

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

It could be modified to say 

My fellow AAPians, ask not what AAP can do for you, ask what you can do for AAP in your own way

Hope we observe and ACT rather than REACTING all the time.

All the best.