(Mohd Asim is Senior News Editor, NDTV 24x7)Arvind Kejriwal has coughed up a dare. Kiran Bedi has scoffed at it.
By suggesting a public debate, Kejriwal has thrown an open challenge to the BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate and his old comrade. But Kiran is now no longer an idealist activist. She has donned her politician's cap with an ease that many old school netas will be envious of. She has ducked Kejriwal's challenge by stating that she will debate with him - but in the Assembly.
Come on, Ms Bedi, you ought to be better and more daring than other dyed-in-the wool politicians. You have been promising a new category of politics, a positive beginning. This is the moment, Ms Bedi.
I am actually surprised that the former tough-cop-turned-activist-turned neta has turned down the AAP dare. After all, she has a blueprint ready for Delhi with all Ps and Ss in place. She also has documented Mr Modi's and his government's 'great strides' in the area of good governance in a thick blue file that she brandished in an interview on NDTV. She has the ammunition, why not bite the bullet? Or is she worried that those files that she says helped her overcome her dilemma about joining the BJP may fail to convince voters in the face of direct fire from the 'mufflerman'?
It's also important for her to say 'yes' to remain true to her own past stands on public debates between claimants to high public offices. Didn't she tell us earlier that she loved to watch Obama and Romney slug it out in run-up to the US Presidential election? She tweeted about it on October 22, 2012. Oops! Did she forget to delete it?
Why copy the US, did you ask? Well, isn't it the BJP which converted the entire Lok Sabha campaign into a clash of personalities? And reaped rich harvest. The Congress tried to hide behind the "we are a parliamentary democracy, not the presidential kind" argument and was jeered. Didn't Mr Modi challenge Sonia Gandhi for a public debate on the Gujarat model? Didn't the 'beautiful' leader challenge Rahul Gandhi to debate Smiriti Irani in Amethi? Didn't Kiran Bedi herself also tweet how she would love a public debate between Sonia Gandhi and Nitin Gadkari? Now, please don't say that "I won't do it because they didn't." Or is it that the BJP tradition - you only throw a challenge to an opponent and duck when it comes your way?
It's no one's case that this one Kiran-Kejriwal debate could change the way elections are fought in India, but it certainly will be a good beginning, especially when, whether we like it or not, elections have become personality-centric. A public debate is unlikely to change a voter's mind, but it will certainly bring a new energy to the democratic process. At the very least, it's going to be fun.
What about some good, clean fun, Ms Bedi? That never hurt anyone.
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.