AAP Plays A Patriot Card In Late Twist

Rivals riled as AAP makes a dash for nationalism poll plank in its manifesto with the promise of ‘Deshbhakti’ course in schools

- Gulam Jeelani

‘Your nationalism versus mine’ – this tug of war seems to have hijacked the campaigning for Delhi Assembly elections in its final stages.

The Aam Aadmi Party’s manifesto, released on Tuesday, promises to introduce a ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum at schools. This election eve bid to steal BJP’s nationalism poll plank has triggered a political slugfest.

The push for patriotism by the ruling party in Delhi has evoked sharp reactions from the Opposition – with the BJP alleging that AAP is lifting from its manifesto and the Congress describing it as “BJP’s B Team”.

The 2020 manifesto, released by national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and senior leader Sanjay Singh, incorporates just 28 promises, a steep drop from 70 in the 2015 Assembly polls.

“Building on the success of happiness curriculum and entrepreneurship curriculum introduced in Delhi government schools, a Deshbhakti curriculum [patriotism curriculum] will be introduced,” reads the document.

Leaders involved in the drafting of the manifesto said that the three-month curriculum will focus on the three core values of the Preamble to the Constitution: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.