In his first big public outing since the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) defeat in the just-concluded Delhi Assembly elections, party leader Arvind Kejriwal went on the attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), blaming them for governance “worse than the British.” Addressing the ‘Ek Shaam Shaheedon Ke Naam’ function on March 23, 2025, Kejriwal drew on the legacies of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and social reformer Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to drive home his points.
Invocation of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar
Kejriwal underscored that AAP’s political trajectory is based on the principles of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar and wishes to change society, not just to drive out colonial masters. ” Bhagat Singh would say that it was not sufficient to merely drive out the British; the nature of society had to change. Otherwise, brown masters would take the place of the British. This is exactly what has occurred. The rulers today are worse than the British.
Allegations Against BJP’s Symbolic Actions
The AAP chief charged the BJP with disrespecting national symbols, claiming that in 48 hours of coming to power in Delhi, the BJP had pulled down portraits of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar from official buildings. He asked, “I want to ask them if there is anyone who has sacrificed more for the country than Bhagat Singh.”
Personal Parallels with Bhagat Singh’s Incarceration
Comparing his own incarceration with that of Bhagat Singh, Kejriwal recounted that all his letters were censored or went undelivered while he was in jail. He related an incident where a letter he wrote to the Lieutenant Governor, proposing that AAP leader Atishi Marlena fly the national flag in his absence, was never sent. He compared this to that of Bhagat Singh, when some of his prison letters were censored or didn’t reach their receivers at all.
Reaffirmation of AAP’s Mission
Kejriwal reasserted that AAP joined politics with a vision to realize the dreams of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar, not just with a desire to come to power. He claimed that the mission of the party is to introduce systemic change and maintain the principles for which these icons lived.
Context of the Address
The event marked Kejriwal’s return to the public eye in Delhi after AAP’s electoral setback, where the BJP secured a majority in the Assembly elections, ending AAP’s decade-long governance in the capital. The address served as both a tribute to martyrs and a platform to critique the current political landscape, signaling AAP’s intent to continue advocating for its foundational principles despite recent challenges.
Kejriwal’s statement underlines his continued adherence to the principles of India’s freedom fighters and social reformers and places AAP in contrast to what he sees as a BJP breakdown from these principles.
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