(Captain GR Gopinath founded Air Deccan and is considered a pioneer in the low-cost airline sector. He recently joined Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party.)
The use of a business jet by
Arvind Kejriwal to fly to Delhi from Jaipur has stirred a hornet's nest.
One TV channel went on a frontal assault alleging 'outright hypocrisy ' and devoted a full half hour for debate with all the major political parties including AAP and other eminent guests participating on the panel.
The mainstream political parties, whose leaders virtually live in business jets in the run up to elections, attacked Kejriwal with sadistic glee and self-righteously tried to justify the extravagance of their own leaders. Kejriwal himself attempted a weak defence when he tweeted, 'I used India Today private jet as there were no airline flights to attend India Today annual media event. Let Modi, Sonia and Rahul too disclose who's providing them air crafts.'
It was lost in the din. The damage was done. Social media was already tearing him apart.
After the unseemly Somnath Bharati episode, Yogendra Yadav when asked, if in hindsight AAP admits to its failures in the way it handled the case, defended the conduct of Bharti, but admitted that they have realised perceptions matter more than reality in politics but they figured this out too late.
It seems now in the present case the lesson has been lost.
Maybe the desire to be seen in a nationally-televised address of him addressing power players in person was too compelling and irresistible. Of course it is evident that there's no misdemeanour here or corruption or violation of code of conduct.
AAP did not hire the business jet from its party coffers. It is easy to see it is not about corruption. It is about perception. It is about expectations. Kejriwal forgot he set very high standards for others in simplicity and shunning ostentation if they were in public life.
I remember in the 70s and 80s and well into even the 90s that there were just a handful of helicopters and personal airplanes, owned largely by the old business houses of Birlas, Thapars and others. Politicians often travelled by train or Indian Airlines and in buses. Even the business barons were either austere by nature or we're discrete and did not flaunt their wealth as it was frowned upon and was not appreciated. Even though corruption was common at all levels and a different kind of crony capitalism existed through the 'licence Raj', politicians did not strut about in chartered helicopters and planes. They were used only to reach inaccessible remote areas or restricted to use by the defence minister, prime minister to reach border areas by defence air crafts.
It was only in the mid-90s in the wake of reforms and liberalisation that the acquisition and use of choppers and jets boomed. Corporates not only acquired these expensive modes of transport for their own use but also for political patronage. As against restraint and lying low to avoid undue attention (which is still the case in Kerala and West Bengal), jet setting acquired a status symbol.
The minor indiscretion of Kejriwal of course pales into insignificance compared to the charges he's making against the Congress and BJP and big business houses who are providing air crafts to those leaders. They can neither condone their own conduct pointing fingers at Kejriwal's latest impropriety if one can call it that nor remain silent and evade Kejriwal's accusations asking them to reveal their source of funds and names of corporate houses providing them air crafts.
But the public looks upto Kejriwal as they expect him to be different from the rest and has sworn to a new kind of politics - of integrity, simplicity and humility. He may not have violated the first, integrity, but may have crossed the line on the other two, simplicity and humility, by accepting the mode of travel associated with power, glamour and arrogance.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this blog are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing on the blog do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.