AAP Letter to Ombudsman Exhorts, 'Do Not Attend NC Meet to Avoid Confrontation'

NEW DELHI: The Citizen is reproducing a letter written by the Aam Aadmi Party under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to ombudsman former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral L.Ramdas (retired) telling him summarily not to attend the National Council meeting on March 28 to avoid a “confrontation.” A visibly hurt Admiral who has been working selflessly for the success of AAP wrote down his response to the badly worded missive from the party secretariat that places a great deal of what is happening within, in perspective.

The Citizen has a copy of the letter and while reproducing this has to make it clear that this was not ‘leaked’ but obtained from sources within the party. We have taken a unilateral editorial decision to release it publicly:

The letter reads:

Dear Members of the NC, NE, PAC, Volunteers, Supporters

I am writing this letter since I will not be present in person at the NC meeting on Saturday March 28 2015.

I made this visit to Delhi from my village in Maharashtra, especially in order to attend this meeting – as indeed I had done in 2014. However I was told not to attend the NC meeting, via an SMS from the Party General Secretary just a few hours ago, and I quote:

“Sir,

We discussed and it was decided that

1. NC is a party internal affair

2. As indicated earlier term of Lokpal need to be renewed in the next NE.

3. Only MLAs and MPs have been invited apart from authorised NC members.

4. No one else have been invited.

So request you to not come to the meeting to avoid any confrontation.”

As a loyal servant of the people and the party, and a disciplined former Chief of the Naval Staff, I have decided to honour the above request, by not attending this meeting, despite many requests that I as Lokpal be present.

I am quite aware that the NC is a party internal affair. I am also aware that special invitees / observers have been invited to all bodies from PAC, to NEC to NC in the past.

Since there has also been an unexpected reference to the term/tenure of the Lokpal – it is important to clarify this point here:

1. The party had in effect already extended my initial term as Lokpal. I was asked to investigate complaints received regarding candidate selections from UP and Haryana prior to the filing of nominations for Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

2. As recently as January 2015, in the run up to the Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections, the office had again asked me to investigate complaints received from Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav about twelve of the selected candidates. In my judgement I had cancelled two candidates, passed four, and the remaining six were cleared conditionally with a warning to be issued by the General Secretary of the party.

It is the last line of the message from the General Secretary which contains an intriguing reference to my presence at this meeting not being desirable in order “to avoid any confrontation”. I am surprised to hear that there is apprehension that the presence of the internal Lokpal could possibly cause confrontation! One wonders why, with whom and about what.

I agreed to join AAP – that too as its Lokpal – in response to a joint invitation from National Convenor – Arvind Kejriwal, and PAC and NE member and legal counsel – Prashant Bhushan.

Over the past two and a half momentous years, I have had on several occasions to fulfil responsibilities and demands associated with complaints and allegations. There have also been times when I have had to expand my own function from that of judge to one of advisor, counselor and friend.

I have continued to support AAP in several ways, without being a formal member, as its internal Lokpal. I saw in this movement a new, corruption free, brand of politics, and the exciting possibility of realising a shared dream of a new political vision. In my travels across the country it has been my proud privilege to meet and interact with some of the most amazing volunteers, supporters, advisors, campaigners and activists that made one proud to be Indian.

I had hoped that this NC meeting would be a celebration of our victory, and an occasion for us to move forward with even greater vigour and energy across the country. However, I would like to share my deep sadness and disbelief that in such a short time after our stunning victory in Delhi, we have allowed ourselves to fall apart in this way. The biggest beneficiaries in this entire episode are our political opponents and we have become the talk of the town across the country.

I hold our leadership collectively responsible for this – and for our failure to be able to rise above personal egos, to resort to leakages, the cheapest form of stings and spreading conspiracy theories which should put us all to shame.

In view of the many complaints received from both volunteers and a few NE members since Feb 26 2015, I assure you that I will investigate these as soon as they are formally sent to the Lokpal by the party office as per our norms.

Despite all that has happened, I continue to believe that the principles on which the AAP was founded are unique and have a compelling universal appeal. This continues today, and this is what brings together this extraordinary commitment and energy – which will undoubtedly take us forward. I have no doubt that all of you present at the NC will act wisely and build unity in the Party as we go forward.

Warmest Regards

L Ramdas