**Is India Still a Democracy Under Modi’s BJP Rule? AAP’s Allegations of Power Misuse**
By Ahmed Sohail Siddiqui
The essence of democracy lies in fairness, accountability, and the rule of law. However, recent allegations by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suggest a systematic misuse of power by the BJP-led central government to weaken opposition parties, particularly the AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab. The targeting of AAP leaders, manipulation of state resources, and electoral malpractices raise critical concerns about the state of Indian democracy under the BJP.
**AAP’s Allegations: A Pattern of Political Persecution**
AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Atishi Singh, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal Rai, Amanatullah Khan and Sanjay Singh, have consistently accused the Modi government of using central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to frame false cases against them. The Supreme Court itself has remarked that many of these cases would be “thrown into the dustbin in two minutes” due to a lack of evidence. This statement from the judiciary underscores the growing concerns about the misuse of investigative agencies to crush political rivals.
The AAP government in Delhi has also accused the BJP-led Haryana government of sending **poisoned water** to Delhi, endangering millions of residents. If true, such actions reflect a disturbing level of hostility in governance, where basic civic responsibilities are compromised for political gains.
**The Hate Campaign Against AAP: A Caste and Class Divide**
AAP has positioned itself as a pro-poor party, introducing welfare measures such as free electricity, free health Mohalla clinics, free education, and free transport for women. These policies have gained mass support, especially among the underprivileged and Muslim voters, who have largely backed AAP over the past decade. However, the party’s inclusive and welfare-driven approach has faced severe resistance from **upper-caste and billionaire-backed parties like BJP and Congress**, who see AAP as a threat to their traditional dominance.
The BJP and Congress have reportedly fueled caste and communal divisions to polarize voters against AAP. The narrative set by BJP portrays Kejriwal’s government as corrupt and inefficient, despite Delhi citizens continuing to support AAP’s governance model. Modi’s claim that BJP will win **63 out of 70 seats** in the upcoming Delhi elections seems less like a prediction and more like a warning of possible **EVM tampering**—a concern that many opposition leaders, including AAP, have voiced repeatedly.
**The Role of AIMIM: A BJP-Backed Muslim Vote Splitter?**
A significant strategy used by BJP to counter AAP’s influence among Muslim voters is allegedly the **use of AIMIM (Asaduddin Owaisi’s party) to divide Muslim votes**. By fielding candidates in Muslim-dominated constituencies, AIMIM is accused of indirectly helping BJP by splitting anti-BJP votes, ensuring a saffron victory in closely contested seats. Congress, too, is playing along in this game, as seen in its alliance dynamics in multiple states.
**The Battle for Delhi: Democracy vs. Communal Politics**
The fight for Delhi’s assembly elections is turning into a **class war**, where AAP represents the common man, and BJP-Congress represent the elite. Delhi’s voters have repeatedly rejected **Hindutva mascots like Yogi Adityanath**, favoring AAP’s developmental model instead. However, BJP’s playbook—rooted in **money power, intimidation, and communal polarization**—is being aggressively deployed against AAP.
The Modi-Shah-led BJP is accused of practicing **Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed** (a Machiavellian strategy involving persuasion, bribery, punishment, and division) to crush AAP. This includes **buying MLAs, terrorizing AAP workers, and ensuring that BJP gains control of polling booths with tampered EVMs**.
**Is India Still a Democracy?**
With the **Election Commission remaining silent** on BJP’s blatant violations of election rules, the judiciary highlighting the political vendetta against AAP leaders, and central agencies being used as BJP’s private attack dogs, India’s democracy is under severe strain. The fundamental principle of fair competition in elections is being trampled upon by a party that **preaches “Ram Rajya” but practices dictatorship**.
AAP’s fight is not just against BJP but against a **system rigged to favor the ruling elite**. If democracy in India is to survive, institutions must act independently, and voters must resist **BJP’s authoritarian grip** on the nation’s politics. The world is watching—will India uphold its democratic values, or will it slip further into a **one-party dictatorship under Modi’s BJP?**
( **Ahmed Sohail Siddiqui is a Senior Journalist & Chief Editor & former Chief Founder of BJP Urdu Media Cell 1999 National BJP. He was closely associated as a think tank with late Shri K.R.Malkani & BJP** )
*****