The Professional Agitator

I often travel to Kerala, and we drive past the city centre. Almost everyday there is a large crowd of people protesting in front of the legislature. After a few days I noticed that I was able to recognise the faces of several  of the agitators. Though they were the same the placards, the slogan  and the agitation was different.

I asked my friend Anil, how was this so? He laughed and replied, oh! these are professional agitators. They are paid to simply turn up and make a noise, they are paid well and also get a free meal. When many people do not have jobs agitations itself have become a notable employment avenue.

We all laughed at the irony of the situation. However its a testimony  to a terrible state of affairs in the communist ruled states of Kerala and West Bengal.


Some years ago a young man burst onto the national stage, Arvind Kejriwal. Passionate, articulate and appearing to be sincere, he was the spokesman for Anna Hazare's movement for 'IAC' India against corruption.

He captured the imagination of the people of India with is agitational techniques, vitriolic attacks and thunderous support. Enthused and encouraged by the overwhelming support for Indians to see a change, Kejriwal formed a new political party called 'AAP' or 'Aam Admi Party'.  He was an agitator par excellence.

AAP stormed into power in Delhi winning 67 of the 70 seats for Delhi state elections in 2015. Politics requires much more responsibility than agitating, greater understanding and maturity, dignity and leadership.

Kejriwal the dictatorial agitator, soon found himself accountable for performance, Unfortunately he was not so good at leading a responsible government as he was at agitation. He was fighting the Lt. Governor Jung, the central government, all and sundry. Even the co founders of APP were unceremoniously booted out not because of principles but on personal whims.

'Why Should I be nice to people on the way up , I am not coming down.' was probably what he believed in.

Reminds me of the time when Obama was running for President of America, he kept saying "Change is coming, Change is coming". After he was elected he said,  "Change has come."

A politician is someone who shakes your hand before the election and your confidence after.

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His foray into national politics backfired badly, with him losing badly all state and national elections which AAP contested. Kejriwal accused and blamed everyone including the highly respected election commission of India of being corrupt.  He attacked without exception political, social and business leaders of all types, accusing them of sleaze, theft and corruption. In return he was inundated with defamation suits. 

He was so busy agitating and fighting with one and all, minding other people's business  he forgot to look after his own business. Failing to provide good clean and effective governance AAP has lost the just concluded Delhi Municipal elections in fact drubbed by the BJP. Yet there is no introspection, in fact there is an outpouring, a wave of accusations, attack and blaming everyone else. 

My personal opinion is inconsequential, the citizens of Delhi have spoken.

Agitators are like children seeking attention, but somewhere in life they grow up to become adults and become responsible and deliver results.

Agitators often have to resort to theatrics, but that can only be used occasionally. Too much of it and one is more likely to be treated as a joke, as has befallen on Kejriwal, especially when he is a chief minister and heads the AAP political party.

Citizens want good leadership and governance much, much more than they want entertainment.