Kejriwal is guarded by a 24X7 VIP Security

Does Kejriwal need security at all?

The answer may be “No” by a good number of people today. Answer it again going back in pre-2012 era. Just 3 years back from today, no one would have expected an unarmed common man exposing Robert Vadra, Mukesh Ambani and alikes. It was a routine those days to read about murder of one or the other RTI activist or a whistle-blower who would have tried to expose some local politician or a goon. Forget about an Aam Aadmi, the most powerful media never dared to have a story on these people. The day Kejriwal spoke against Robert Vadra a lot of people would have said “अब इसका बचना मुश्किल है” Kejriwal had a very serious threat to his life much more than many other politician in India.

What did we do to convince him?

He must be admired to have heard the same thing thousands of times. I am sure 90 out of 100 people he would be meeting those days would have requested him for the same. Hundreds of groups would have sent him requests. A signature campaign was started on causes.com. 10800 people signed in support. Accompanied by my friend Prashant Kumar from Jaipur, I went to Kaushambhi office. Dr. Vipin Mittal, a common friend of Arvind and me was with us. We handed over the list of singatures to him. His simple response was that signature smile. I requested him to answer on camera as I had promised the signatories that I would upload Arvind’s response on youtube.

What was his response?

It was recorded using a mobile phone from some distance, so the audio was not very clear. Moreover there are a few interuptions. I have put hindi subtitles in the video. The video is embedded beneath this English transcript of the conversation.

Arvind:

I am very much thankful to all of you for the love and respect that you have extended. But this is against my principles. I strongly believe that.. Firstly every one is born with a mission, everyone, be him a common man or a special one. So as long as his mission is incomplete, no one can kill him. So I strongly believe that till the time, my mission is over, nothing would happen to me. And if I am destined to leave it incomplete, the people of India would take it forward. But taking security cover and roaming around with security guards is totally against my principles. I am a common man and I enjoy being a common man. I want to remain an Aam Aadmi. I go for a movie with my family, and I want to have my family with me while going for a movie and not the security guards. You all have sent me this letter. I am thankful to all of you for this all the love and care.

Dr Rakesh:

There have a number of such people who were killed ….Bhagat Singh…

Arvind:

There mission was complete. Bhagat Singh did his contribution. His part was complete. India was not liberated at that time. But can we say that Bhagat Singh did not complete his task or he had no role to play? Bhagat Singh had his own role to play, Chandrashekhar Azad had. Every one had their role defined. Its like a beacon relay. We should complete our part and pass on the relay to next one. He would take it forward.

Dr Vipin Mittal:

If Mahatma Gandhi would have survived for a few more years, probably India would have been quite different today.

Arvind:

Ya. That’s true. But the almighty did not want him to survive more. Now Rajeev Gandhi had a very tight security, Indira Gandhi too had. But no one could save them. Because the role that they were destined to play was over. So my own belief is that if I take security cover, I wont be myself. People have joined this movement because we are common people. The basic theme would be compromised. By providing security, you can not save me.

Someone:

So you believe in God.

Arvind:

I strongly believe in God. I never used to. I was an astheist earlier. But the way this movement has picked up, this can not be because of all of us. We are too small for this. So after this movement I started believing that there is some supernatural power that’s controlling this movement. This movement has brought together the whole country. We could not have done it. In such a small duration it was not possible.

Someone:

May be this was need of the hour.

Arvind:

Exactly. May be this was need of the hour. The way things are moving I am sure something big is going to happen. Something good is going to happen in this country. Whether it would be through me, or you or someone else or through all of us..

Dr Vipin:

Bhaiya even Prashant says its very good to be brave, but its not good to be foolhardy.

Arvind:

But its neither being brave nor being foolhardy. Its about being practical. We often are scared for no reason. Like when I talked about Robert Vadra, a lot of people said that this would happen, that would happen. But then we did and nothing happened. Even we had some concerns but nothing happened. When we exposed Reliance, again.. Lets see, lets move forward.

Dr Rakesh:

But its quite early to ..

Arvind:

I agree that its quite early. I also admit that there is serious threat. I am not saying No. But I also feel that no amount of security cover can work.

Dr Rakesh:

But at least some precautionary measures can be taken. So that we can at least…

Dr Vipin:

No one is going to attack these thieves, but still they roam around with security.

Arvind:

No No. See one of the goals of this movement is also to take out that imaginary fear from the minds of people. If I start roaming around with a security cover, every common man would say I too want it. We are trying to tell the people that be ready for the ultimate sacrifice. And all should raise a collective voice. And a lot of people have started doing so, because of this movement. In last 3-4 months there has been a lot of change. When I went for reconnecting the electricity meter for the first time, I said that I will go to jail. Later a lot of people started saying the same. Now today only I have a got a SMS from some Gunjan. He said I reconnected 3 meters and has told the police that he has done it. Now people are themselves ready to go to jail. So I had to take the intiative. If I would have …. If I say that I need security and I would expose the most powerful people. It wont motivate people.

Dr Rakesh:

This much courage we can gather to reconnect a meter or to go to jail. But not to speak up against people like Vadra.

Arvind:

Gradually it will happen. Now you can see it on TV channels. You remember earlier even the media could not dare to speak up against them. Now farmers are speaking up, common man is speaking up.

Dr Vipin:

If they succeed in doing something, don’t you think the that would it would just prove that the treat was real. And may be for next 60 years no one would dare to speak up.

Arvind:

No. No. I think if I accept security that would be a very wrong message for the whole country.

Dr Vipin:

So just for the message should we ..

Arvind:

Message is very important. See when we read about Shivaji, Bhagat Singh.. Now just think if Bhagat Singh would not have given the ultimate sacrifice, would Bhagat Singh be Bhagat Singh? If Bhagat Singh would have thought that by throwing that bomb in the assembly, I would be hanged. Its better if I survive for more years. Bhagat Singh would not have been Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar would not have been Chandrashekhar. Their sacrifice is what inspires you. What was that inspires you. Their sacrifice, their courage. And if you just take out that sacrifice… all those stories that we read in history would be useless.

Dr Rakesh:

Those days it was a compulsion.

Arvind:

Today its even more required.

Dr Rakesh:

You dont need to die today. You just need to work.

Arvind:

Today’s government is worse than those of British. British used to make law but used to follow it. These people make the laws and dont even follow it. Whatever they say is the law today. It is much more difficult today.

Dr Rakesh:

We are not saying that you have that full security cover, but some precautionary measures are needed. At least a few people

Arvind:

Two things. One do you believe in god? You? Now I do. And secondly. The blessings of crores of people, the blessings of these ten thousand people whose signatures you have got, their blessing would keep me alive. So if I am destined to survive, I would, else not.

Dr Vipin:

You think we got the independence because of the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar? Or it was the second World War ..

Arvind:

Lets not go into all those things. There can be different views. Everyone played his role. But if Bhagat Singh would have thought that time that if I die, who would liberate the country. Some one else would. Everyone has his role. I have this much of role. After me Rakesh has his role.

Dr Vipin:

Dr Rakesh, or anyone. Do you see anyone who can take it forward?

Arvind:

Not like that.

Dr Rakesh:

Ok tell me one thing. You do everything with the opinion of people. On this issue 95% people feel that you should have some sort of security. Why not on this issue? If you read the 50 thousand comments that this post got, 2% people say that you should not take security provided by government, but you should.

Arvind:

No.

So what is VIP security cover?

Volunteers – Kejriwal is surrounded by a few volunteers, who accompany him. They act as the first defence in case of any effort of physically harming him

Immense faith in the destiny/almighty  – The strong belief that he has in the destiny, the willingness for the ultimate sacrifice

People – The blessings of millions of people for whom he is the only hope.