Guest post by NITYANAND JAYARAMAN
I am avowedly anti-police. I am only half-convinced when I say that they are a necessary evil. The “necessary” part is what I get doubtful about. This last Saturday was different. I found myself uncomfortably on the same side as the police as I read the newspapers about Somnath Bharti’s self-righteous and racist escapades. To tell the truth, I did not immediately believe what I read. That was not because I had some personal knowledge of Bharti’s antecedents. But because, AAP was a phenomenon that I wanted to work.
These last few weeks, ever since AAP’s dramatic rise to power, I have been wafting in and out of mental states, between dreams and wakefulness. Dreams are fragile things. For me, AAP’s upsurge was a dream coming true. I come from a generation of Tamils that takes joy no matter whether AIADMK or DMK wins as long as the ruling party loses horribly. Ditto with Congress and BJP.
Now, this AAP thing was an early morning dream. I could see it, feel the joy of seeing disbelief and confusion writ large in the faces of BJP and Congress wallahs. I loved it. I did not know whether I liked AAP or not. But I liked what they did, how they did it. In terms of what they proposed to do, I had questions, suggestions and critical comments. To me, the stated lack of ideology – to begin with – was both an opportunity and a challenge.
Good dreams, especially the early morning types, are difficult to let go. And I’m a hopeless lover of good dreams. Sometimes, even after waking up, I try to return to sleep to recreate and hope against hope that I can seamlessly edit in a new scene from where I left off.
So here I was in my dream. Hope catalysed me into wanting to shape it. When doubts arose tainting the goodness of the dream with cynicism and analysis, my co-dreaming friends brushed it away with sound arguments and their own actions. I loved those friends of mine who jumped headlong into the dream. One became a member of AAP and then called for a consultation post-facto. Another was already halfway into her application for an MP ticket. Another, an elderly big-sister whose faith that something good was happening, should happen, cannot not happen reminded me of all the good people that are players in this dream. This dream was different. We needed this dream after the almost uninterrupted nightmare of post-independence politics.
The possibility of the dream turning into a nightmare was real, and had to be confronted. I still hadn’t woken up. The dream scene cut to a rude interruption. Mr. Bharti entered the scene without warning. He and his goons. I don’t remember if they were wearing those funny hats that night in the dream. No, not the Aam Admi caps. There was something else – like pillowcases with holes cut-out for eyes. It was confusion then. I saw a bunch of frightened African women. Loud voices. Abusive sounds. Shrill tones – all male — conflicting commands and directions to nobody in particular. The women were accused of being whores, junkies. The fear of the African women was palpable.
My dream was not going where I wanted it to. Like always, with this dream too, I didn’t seem to be in control. I knew who was, though — Arvind Kejriwal. Arvind is a person I know and grew to respect for all the unhesitating help he gave us when the Bhopal survivors were camped out in Jantar Mantar in 2008. It does not take a genius to know that he is one, gifted as he is with a razor keen mind that can not only conjure up an engaging framework for conducting a debate, but also overturn all other frames and draw his adversaries into his comfort zone for some easy pickings.
I knew he was in a hurry to change the world. I am too, and I can understand his enthusiasm. Unlike me, who has no real clue how to go about it systematically, Arvind had demonstrated that he has a game plan. Now that Bharti had weirded my dream, I felt certain that Arvind would do something to put the dream back on track.
But his response shocked me. First, he defended Bharti. Then he asked for the suspension of four police officers who had – in a rare show of compliance and respect for due process — refused to arrest the women or search their house without a warrant. He brushed off the harsh treatment meted out to the African women by suggesting that the area was a den of vice, and that the women may also be engaged in drugs and prostitution. Seamlessly, he moved to the crux of the plot – his demand that the Delhi Police were harbouring criminals, and that the force should be brought under State Government control.
Bharti’s midnight madness was not a random event. That and Rakhi Birla’s confrontation with the police over a dowry death were part of the same plot to lay claim to the police force. In itself, the demand for bringing the police under Delhi’s control is not objectionable. Neither is the use of a strategy and a plot.
What was objectionable is the Khidki plot. Bharti’s violent and racist harassment of the African women was part of a carefully rolled out plan that played on the base racist stereotypes harboured by Indians. The problem with the plot lies in the frames that it seeks to invoke and play on. The frame that Africans are oversexed junkies. The frame that prostitutes are women with loose morals, and that women with loose morals are plain dangerous. It is easy to justify abuse and violence against a woman if you brand her a whore. Contemporary Indian culture celebrates such behaviour.
AAP’s game-plan for laying claim to the Delhi police force hinged on propagating a negative stereotype of black people. They promoted a notion that because Africans are subjects of such a stereotype, they don’t deserve the due process before we raid their houses or take their urine samples.
AAP needs to revisit the stereotypes it chooses to invoke. The stereotype and the frame of a corrupt politician is a good one, and AAP has pursued that well. But morality stereotypes are a particularly deadly morass. Remember how the BJP invoked an anti-muslim frame to such deadly effect this last decade? As far as Indians are concerned, it seems that all races are screwed up except for Indian hindus who are god’s gifts to human kinds as long as they are not dalits, adivasis, fisherfolk, MBCs, OBCs, dark-skinned, or worse of all, women with an attitude.
To me, it is besides the point whether the African ladies were sex-workers or not. Whether the Africans were women or not is also besides the point. Whether they were Africans or not is also besides the point. Bharti had no right to behave in the manner he did. He had no reason to harangue the police and push them to violate due process.
The second element that hints of a nightmare in the horizon is the inherent notion of collateral damage and its inevitability or even necessity. It is projected that in this pursuit of public good by Aam Admis, some innocents are bound to get hurt, and that that is justified. The ones doing the good – like Bharti and AAP — will, of course, do the hurting.
This is a fundamentalist notion – development fundamentalists may believe that a nuclear power plant is a public good, and that the people of Koodankulam will have to smilingly bear the risks or be branded anti-national; Maoists may believe that it is ok to kill a few civilians or unsuspecting constables in the larger interests of the revolution; likewise with religious fundamentalists.
To me AAP is still a dream, not a nightmare. I am still hopeful that the progressive forces within AAP will ensure that the means are as important as the ends. AAP should not have used the African women as pawns in a political fight to secure control over the Delhi police. An apology to the African women is in order.
I was born in a screwed up world. I have grown up in one. I am living in a messed up world. I want it changed. But this is not changing it. This is messing it up in a different way. This time, the messing up is being done by those who claim to be changing it for the better.
KAFILA - COLLECTIVE EXPLORATIONS SINCE 2006 
Dear Nityanand,
I have just one question for you.Can you prove with evidence from history that political/social change can always happen without any disturbance or chaos which you call as collateral damage.looking forward to your answer
LikeLike
Historical evidence can’t serve as justifications to violate the rights of some for the benefit of majority. Because we live in a Democratic country (theoritically) where unfortunately (for majoritarians) people have rights which can’t be violated for the supposed greatest good for greatest people.
LikeLike
Dear Sameer: You are right that when social changes happen, upheavals are inevitable. I don’t think I can unearth evidence of an utterly calm revolution. However, to actively plan to disturb a certain people, and in a calculated manner by capitalising on certain negative stereotypes, I feel, is not warranted.
LikeLike
Well first of all – the very idea that violating one group’s rights could be seen as “collateral damage”, rather than an unacceptable crime against human and/or civil rights, is disturbing. Particularly, those of a community who are usually marginalised because of negative stereotypes, and are hounded with our racist ideas regarding Black people?
This is the kind of attitude that perpetuates crimes against Dalit people or women and children. The fact that we can find any sort of reason to make violation of basic rights acceptable is and should always be disturbing.
I do not think that everything should immediately begin to go right because AAP is in power, but basic safety, dignity and due legal process are the need of the hour in India – the most urgent and fundamental right anyone in a democracy should be able to claim. The denial of this basic right is rampant and widespread in India right now (from Soni Sori and Linga Kodopi to many many persons falsely accused of militancy or terrorism). Non-violent dissenters – whether they are human rights or other activists, or ordinary people part of movements for change – are all being targetted in this manner as well. So, I expect a govt which claims to be different, to start with ensuring this fundamental right for all people – even to those who are not citizens. They are still human beings.
On a more general principle, even if trying to change things causes some trouble in the beginning, I think it is fine, even important, to talk about those negative effects as well. Simply because those who want to be different, have to be far more introspective and aware of their own follies – they have to show how to be more responsible, just, and honest.
LikeLike
These Leftist are also enjoying power through connections.
LikeLike
kudos kafila for championing the cause of Africans. Though initially they mobilised intellectual support for AAP, despite dissenting members like Sudhbrate sen.Gupta, it is happy to see them all strongly defending the cause of Africans, and fighting against their mistreatment by aap.
LikeLike
Sum up my misgivings with the AAP perfectly. I too am still hopeful though. Lets just hope that the strong leftist constituency within the AAP comprising of people like Prashant Bhushan, Mallika Sarabhai and Medha Patkar will be able to correct this regressive streak within them.
LikeLike
Dear Nityanand,
Were you present there at the time Khidki incident took place in delhi? Have you ever visited this place? I am not a memner of AAP but I feel that whatever you guys have seen on idiot-box, its being shown to you that way, putting AAP minister in a negative limelight. I am afraid that people like you will force AAP to resort to not to take any actions in future, not to do any revolutions. I have seen for the first time that a minister moved out of his comfort zone and did something. I am afraid that in future no minister will do any thing for aam-aadmis. They will do what is being done till date. Just order, delegate and wait for nothing to happen,
Mayank.
LikeLike
Stop dreaming and wake up.
For a start you can read section 42 NDPA and section 15 ITPA which allows police to investigate an area for suspicion of drug abuse and human trafficking without a warrant.
once you have done this ,sip a cup of coffee to be fully awake and watch the video of people from khirki extension and read the letter of complaints registered by them in the area police station for more than 6 months. here for your dreamy mind https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=461083937324705
After this rub your eyes , shake your head and think what is the larger issue here…one can go on and on nitpicking who said what (and I am sure students of journalism are best at this as already exemplified by their akas on TV ) but the larger question is police reforms..and let me give you first hand example of the Dharna effect.
For past one month my sister was visiting police station to lodge an FIR but it was only yesterday that the police registered it.
LikeLike
Police can’t do it only Narcotics control officers can do it so read 42 NDPA once again.
LikeLike
If people just dont get the simple fact that somnath bharti’s action was not the best way to deal with the situation , then they are the ones who need to wake up and smell coffee. If that’s the way we decide issues – then there is no way in which we can stand up against mob incitations for direct action on part of ministers on a hundred other things which go against public morality. You say its a ‘drug and sex’ racket, i say it was a racist and sexist action against a vulnerable minority irrespective of whether they were sex workers or not , and they were even more of victims of societal systems than ‘khirki residents’ . So how do you decide now – should we gather our respective crowds and start a gang war , one led by bharti and one led by us ? Even if what the residents are saying is true, the answer and the course available to a law minister is certainly not to lead mob actions nor demand that just because they think so , police search without arrants declaring it as an area with ‘drug and sex rackets ” without proper evidence or investigation. If police was not investigating, then the dharna should have been outside the police station and not direct action to catch women as much pawns and victims as anybody else. Is mob morality and convictions going to decide everything – today its african women, tomorrow it will be ‘muslim terrorists’ , ‘anti social dalits’ and so on .. is this the way a democracy is run?
Even if there was a tense social situation with racial profiling in khirki which was creating law and order issues , this was an extremely irresponsible and unforgivable act ! So what have you achieved now ? – has the situation become ok ? one set of people are sitting on a dharna and women already in a vulnerable situation are feeling even more vulnerable. Is this the AAP foormula and is this the way AAP is going to resolve delicate social situations?
And i’m very glad your sister’s complaint was registered , but please dont mix irresponsible mob actions with legitimate demands for police reforms . If AAP and its supporters continue to defend asinine actions instead of working out planned social and legal interventions, then our hope in this new political formation is already lost. They are just like any other party defending blindly its actions instead of earning points by course correction which we all hoped for to show they are actually different. They turn out to be as egoistic and arrogant as others and refuse to even begin to smell coffeee, forget about waking up.
LikeLike
Reading the latest opinion polls giving BJP clear 180+, this dienchantment with AAP is all the more troubling. There are hardly any regional parties who cannot align with BJP at any cost. If Congress intra-party miracles that we cannot even imagine are too late to reverse anti-incumbancy mood, Modi will reap the harvest of whatever UPA I & II did achieve. It is hard to see AAP in such a crude hurry that it would diminish its potential to lap up the anti-incumbancy votes and still prop up a chastened Congress, force the fence-sitting regional parties to swing towards UPA-III and keep MODI led NDA out. If that does not happen and Modi does go to Delhi, it will be hard for the Left forces to regroup. There won’t be no BJP either except NAMO party. There must be some forces which can engage AAP and Congress leaderships to get back on track from what seems to be their mutually reinforcing downward spiral.
LikeLike
I think the most victimised lot are those residents of Khirkee who complained. Their story is suppressed – it is now branded as the result of stereotyping and racism. We know so little about the incident and yet so much has happened after it. It is easy to have anti-AAP narratives following the Khirkee incident as the alleged crime is done by prejudiced social groups. While this does not make the crime any smaller, it only makes crime-fighting and racial profiling conveniently alternative narratives. Harish Salve isn’t a fool, you see
LikeLike
And what stopped you from preempting Salve, realising Somnath bharti’s actions were certainly not the way to resolve a fragile and tense social reason where both khirki residents as well as those african women who were even more vulnerable minority there? Is this the way to resolve a law and order situation – take law in your hands against people who are relatively even more powerless . Instead of blaming those who criticise and oppose such actions, it would have been better if AAP did some introspection instead of blind defences of its ‘own people’ – they would have come out even stronger if that had happened . Dont blame the messenger for the message !
And cant even people see how even more disillusioned people are getting by such responses, such adamant and arrogant refusal to come to terms with your mistakes ? refusing to learn ? Sensitive social situations recquire sensitive interventions, not rabid mob action which sets dangerous precedents.
LikeLike
And what if Somnath Bharti is the one being stereotyped here? What if we are assuming that he is the typical moralizing, Hindu male goon, just because he has made allegations of drugs and sex trafficking against a racial minority group?
LikeLike
Nity
Maybe this is not about “Collatoral damage” per se. Maybe the narrative is more clarifying if it runs like this. Activist gets elected to political office. Activist starts to behave like a politician.
This would suggest that however smart AK is, he can’t change the system without playing the game, and thus to some extent the system is reproduced.
So the real question this raises, actually, is how viable is change through electoral politics in India. If AK is as smart as you say, then he is a limit case, and that troubling thought should indeed wake one out of at least one dream.
LikeLike
sorry typo – it was “realising Somnath bharti’s actions were certainly not the way to resolve a fragile social situation with both khirki residents as well as those african women who were even more vulnerable minority coexisting in an obviously tense atmosphere.
LikeLike
I’m sorry if I have missed it, but where is it mentioned that any of the claims of drugs or prostitution were false? Is there proof that they were false statements? According to Arvind Kejriwal in his interview, it was the residents of the area who’d written to the AAP, and the AAP had in turn written letters to the police requesting action regarding the same. This led me to the understanding that it was the police who failed and refused to take any action, and it was the minister who tried some desperate measures to do something to get the police do something about it (he could’ve been just any other person, like you or me trying in vain to get the police do something)
LikeLike
Dear all:
I have not mentioned that AAP should not respond to people’s complaints. Neither have I mentioned that forcing accountability on the police is a bad thing. I am with AAP and will support them on that effort. I’m saying that they had no information that the four women they caught were part of that racket. Bharti has in a statement said that they were leading a pack of policemen when they sensed the police falling behind, they ran forward towards four African women, and apprehended them. What followed is out there. Even if the women were sex-workers, I do not think they deserved the treatment they got from Mr. Bharti. If there are people who have a difference of opinion on that, I am afraid I will not be able to offer any more convincing arguments. To dismiss the concerns I have raised as the rantings of an anti-AAP crusader is incorrect. I’m a well-wisher of AAP, and that is a fact. It is possible to be a well-wisher and be critical at the same time. There is no such thing as unconditional support in politics.
LikeLike