Kejriwal’s arrest may unite a divided Opposition

The INDIA bloc coming in support of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party boss Arvind Kejriwal may not be the turning point in the Opposition’s favor, but it is surely not a good sign for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai has said that the bloc will hold a mega rally on March 31 to show solidarity with Kejriwal who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case on March 21. “The way Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested, all those people across the nation who love and respect constitution, there is anger in their hearts. It is not just about Arvind Kejriwal but one by one to wipe out the entire Opposition,” Rai said at the briefing of INDIA bloc leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is misusing Central agencies by buying MLAs and threatening them to join the BJP, he said.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said, “Democracy is in danger. Our leader Rahul Gandhi is fighting to save democracy. We are standing strong with the partners of INDIA alliance.”

The BJP government and leaders seem to ignore the fact that fear, like anger and hatred, is a strong emotion; it can intensify anybody to double down on their efforts to achieve something they ardently desire; and at this point, Opposition leaders don’t desire anything other than the ouster of the BJP government.

The BJP, with full support from the RSS, is very strong today. Its government, under Modi, has also not done badly. On the whole, the economy is doing well; the growth rate is high, infrastructure building is visible, fiscal prudence is in place, inflation is being reined in, and welfare measures are working. Private investment and employment generation are big issues, but it is not unreasonable to expect improvement in the foreseeable future.

The Opposition, on the other hand, is divided and confused. It has nothing offer to people other than caste census and freebies. The BJP’s eagerness to torment its rivals, however, may become the glue the Opposition badly needs. If that happens, the consequences may not be very pleasant for the saffron party.

The BJP should not be doing what it is. It is so needless and pointless.