BJP, Congress admire Pranab Mukherjee's apparent reference to AAP's 'populist anarchy'

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee’s Republic Day eve address to the nation has evoked admiration across political parties for its constitutional correctness and sharp political content, with BJP and Congress using it to hit out at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“Elections do not give any person the licence to flirt with illusions. Those who seek the trust of voters must promise only what is possible. Government is not a charity shop,” the President had said in his address on Saturday. “Populist anarchy cannot be a substitute for governance. False promises lead to disillusionment, which gives birth to rage, and that rage has one legitimate target: those in power,” he said.

This is seen by many as the President’s public disapproval of the manner in which Kejriwal resorted to a street agitation last week against the centre.

“I completely agree with the President that the country needs a stable government,” BJP president Rajnath Singh said on Sunday. “In this independent India, if the system breaks then the country also falls. The dignity and prestige of the democratic system should not be challenged by anarchic attitude,” he said after unfurling the tricolour at the BJP headquarters. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has said Kejriwal should learn from Narendra Modi on how to deal with the media.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, “We have repeatedly said populist anarchy cannot substitute governance.”

JP Aggarwal, former Delhi Congress chief, said the president’s statement applied to AAP. “They (AAP) made big promises and they failed to deliver. Why didn't they think before making those promises?” he said.

Two factors made the President’s address interesting and engaging. Foremost was Mukherjee’s image as a seasoned politician, experienced administrator and a parliamentarian par excellence. It also underlined Mukherjee’s reputation for being Constitutionally correct. Incidentally, Kejriwal and some of his cabinet colleagues had attended the President’s ‘at home’ Republic Day function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.

AAP leaders said it was wrong to interpret the President’s address as an attack on the party. “I am sure the President meant the larger situation in the country. The country faces challenges of authoritarianism and dynasty politics. To say that President's address targets AAP is an attempt to insult the dignity of President's office,” Yogendra Yadav said.