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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a political party in India that was formally launched by activist Arvind Kejriwal on 26 November 2012. Established with a vow to bring in real Swaraj, real power to the people, the AAP has promised to change not only the government but the system itself and implement in letter and spirit the preamble of the constitution: “For the people, by the people, of the people. Aam Aadmi Party has led several highly visible protests after its launch including fight against Government-private corporations nexus in hiking up Electricity and Water bills in Delhi, fighting for justice for survivors/ victims of sexual harassment and rape and demanding a strong anti-rape law in India.

Philosophy

Founders of Aam Aadmi Party believe that Politics is a very auspicious word. Their stand on politics is that politics should be for the purpose of serving the society and country at large. Taking their values from principles of Mahatma Gandhi they believe that Politics without Principles is very dangerous to the society and the country. Party founders accuse existing political parties and politicians to have made today's politics synonymous with corruption and crime and attribute the dysfunctional nature of current politics to the rampant corruption. According to them “Money maketh Ruler and and Ruler maketh Money” is the phrase that stands true in today’s scenario and this is what they want to change by making removal of corruption first priority of the parliament. Their main agenda is to make politics once again associated with patriotism and social service.

Aam Aadmi Party does not subscribe to any of the existing ideologies – but proposes to become a solution oriented party – irrespective of the origins of those solutions. The founders of the party have time and again refused to be guided by ideologies by stating that they are entering politics to change the system and are mere Aam Aadmi (common men). In the words of party’s National Convener Arvind Kejriwal “We define what the problem is and we try to find the solution. If that solution is available in the left, we take it from the left and if that solution is available in the right, we take it from the right”.

Vision

Aam Aadmi Party's vision is to implement Swaraj (direct democracy) and give power back in the hands of people of India. They plan to achieve this by creating systems where the political leaders elected by the people of India will be directly responsible to the voters who elected them. To this effect, Aam Aadmi Party has suggested making systemic changes in the working of government to make it more transparent and accountable. They want to implement following laws to achieve this.

• Jan Lokpal - A powerful ombudsman law to restrain rampant corruption in the government which will punish those found guilty of corruption in timely and effective manner.

• Right to Reject - Make changes in the current voting system to allow a voter to reject all candidates if he feels that no candidate standing in the election is worth his vote.

• Right to Recall - If an elected candidate is not working to the standards expected from him after election then people will have power to recall him and select a new candidate.

• Swaraj (Political Decentralization) - To create systems to enable people to influence policy decisions that effect their local area directly.

Support

On 26 November 2012, the foundation day of Aam Aadami party, the former law minister Shanti Bhushan donated ₹10 million (US$120,000). On the same day, over 15000 people applied to join the party as volunteers and more than 300 people donated their homes and offices for opening party offices in various cities of India.

Aam Aadmi Party claims to be the only political party in India to disclose on is website the details of all its donors irrespective of the amount donated.

On 18 May 2013, a group of Indian-Americans from 20 different cities in America held a convention in Chicago and extended support to he AAP. The convention was attended by two AAP leaders Kumar Vishwas and Yogendra Yadav. Convention was addressed by Arvind Kejriwal by video conferencing where he stressed the need of decentralisation in governance.

Protests

On 1 Dec 2012 Aam Aadmi party had protested against the Station House Officer(SHO) of Narela Police station in New Delhi for not taking sufficient action against in an alleged rape case of 4 year girl child. Party workers were lathi charged while protesting.

On 23 March 2013, Kejriwal started his indefinite fast against inflated power and electricity bills from a house in Sundar Nagri, a low-income group resettlement colony in North-East Delhi. The protest was targeted against Delhi Government for not listening to people's problems, during which he urged Delhi citizens not to pay "inflated" water and electricity bills. AAP's protest gathered support from 1 million(Signature) resident of Delhi and also got support from famous dignitaries like Anna Hazare, former CEC J M Lyngdoh , ex-Naval Chief Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, Justice V R Krishna Iyer and former National Knowledge Commission Vice Chairman Dr P M Bhargava.

See also

• Aam Aadmi
• Jan Lokpal Bill
• 2012 Anti Corruption Movement in India
• 2011 Anti Corruption Movement in India
• Swaraj by Arvind Kejriwal

External links

• Official website
• Follow Jan Lokpal Bill Movement

References

1. "Arvind Kejriwal formally launches Aam Aadmi Party". India Today}accessdate=26 November 2012.
2. "Cover Story "Promise to Keep"". The Hindu Newspaper. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
3. "Promise to Keep". Frontline Magzine. Retrieved December 15-28,2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
4. "Aam Aadmi Party now a registered political party". The Hindu Newspaper. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
5. PTI (19 May 2013). "AAP workers protest at residences of Delhi CM, MLAs". Times of India. New Delhi.
6. "Delhi police arrests driver on rape charge after AAP activists protest". India Tv News channel. New Delhi. 24 May 2013.
7. ANI (28 April 2013). "AAP protests against inflated electricity bills in New Delhi, submits letters to Shiela Dikshit". newstrackindia.com. New Delhi.
8. "Dissecting the Aam Aadmi's party". DNA. 4 December 2012.
9. ^ "So what is the Aam Aadmi Party all about". India Today. New Delhi. 24 November 2012.
10. "Is Arvind Kejriwal on the Left, Right or Centre?". The Sunday Guardian. 6 June 2013.
11. "Arvind Kejriwal is not an angry man. Or a socialist". The FirstPost. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
12. "'We Are Not Wedded to Any Ideology'". Open magazine. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/we-are-not-wedded-to-any-ideology" ignored (help)
13. "We are not leftist nor rightist". New Delhi.
14. "Jan Lokpal". New Delhi.
15. ^ "I am not entering politics to acquire power". Times of India. New Delhi. 24 September 2012.
16. "Right to reject". New Delhi.
17. "Right to recall". New Delhi.
18. "Political decentralisation". New Delhi.
19. "New Delhi Shanti Bhushan donates Rs. 1 crore to Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party". Hindustan Times. New Delhi. Press Trust of India. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
20. Neha Khanna (24 November 2012). "'Common man' Arvind Kejriwal's party named Aam Aadmi Party". NDTV News channel. New Delhi.
21. "AAP shortlists 44 for 12 Assembly seats". New Delhi. 25 May 2013.
22. "Real time feed of donors". aamaadmiparty.org.
23. "CIC order: Transparency is important in democracy, says Arvind Kejriwal". The Economic Times. New Delhi. 6 June 2013.
24. "Chicago NRIs meet extends support to Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party". Firstpost. 20 May 2013.
25. "Indian-Americans extend support to Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party". IBN Live. 20 May 2013.
26. Dwaipayan Ghosh, TNN 2 Dec 2012, 12.39 am IST. "Aam Aadmi Party workers clash with cops over rape of 4-year-old girl — Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
27. "Aam Aadami Party Begins Civil Disobidience Movement". The Hindu Newspaper. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
28. First Post, 24 March 2013. "Kerjiwal moves to Delhi's power corridor to protest against 'inflated' power bills". First Post.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
29. The Economic Times, 29 March 2013. "Eminent personalities support Kejriwal's movement". The Economic Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

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• Political parties in India
• Political parties established in 2012
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