Delhi rejects Modi's divisive politics

Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has delivered a stunning electoral blow to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi state elections, causing a setback to Narendra Modi's mission to convert India into a Hindu Rashtra. The AAP's 2020 win is different from its previous victories. In the past, AAP had won on basis of good governance by delivering public services particularly health and education. But now it was also a contest between the preachers of Hindutva and secular forces. The election results show that the Delhiwallas have strongly rejected Amit Shah's and his goons' "goli maaro" threats.

The most spectacular victory was of the AAP MLA Amanullah Khan, who successfully retained his Okhla seat in southern parts of Delhi where Shaheen Bagh and Jamia University are located. Shaheen Bagh in particular is under global spotlight for a non-violent anti-CAA sit-in. Being a socio-cultural demographic mosaic India is constitutionally a federation, but on the ground it is a confederation. India is inhabitated by various ethnic groups who speak different languages and practice various religions. And quite a few of them are also up in arms, voicing their right for self-determination. No wonder then Modi's Hindutva has begun breeding its own anti-thesis, a change reflected in countrywide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). And as the passion for Modi-propagated Hindutva dilutes the masses are on the streets protesting this narrow-minded political thought. Rightly then his political opponents, even as they share his faith, have copiously congratulated Arvind Kejriwal on his third electoral victory. As expected, the first to congratulate him was West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, who has famously said: "Leaders playing on faith through hate speech and divisive politics should take a cue". Congratulating the AAP chief, one of the three former chief ministers of Jammu & Occupied Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, has said the Delhiwallas have rejected the "vitriolic divisive politics and voted on real issues". In other words, Delhi chief minister Kejriwal has emerged as prime minister Modi's biggest challenger.