On Thursday, Delhi Police took Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal into custody for dumping garbage outside the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This act of protest was a dramatic display of her discontent with the city’s deteriorating sanitation conditions.

Maliwal, once a close confidante of Kejriwal, has transformed into a staunch critic. This shift in allegiance followed an alleged assault at Kejriwal’s residence in May of the previous year, an incident that irrevocably altered their relationship. Since then, she has consistently seized opportunities to publicly lambaste Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, utilizing her platform to voice her grievances.

Her latest protest was meticulously planned. Earlier that day, she announced her intention to deliver three truckloads of garbage to Kejriwal’s doorstep, a symbolic gesture reflecting her assessment of Delhi’s current state. Speaking to the media following her detention, she delivered a scathing critique of the city’s cleanliness, characterizing it as an overflowing garbage bin.

“The whole city has turned into a garbage bin,” she declared. “I came here to have a conversation with Arvind Kejriwal. I would say to him, ‘Sudhar jao, warna janata sudhaar degi’ – ‘Reform yourself, or the people will reform you.'” She expressed complete disregard for potential repercussions, boldly stating, “I am neither afraid of his goons nor his police.”

Maliwal’s protest was not merely a personal vendetta. She framed it as a response to numerous citizen complaints, particularly those from residents of Vikaspuri who had reported an unaddressed garbage dump. She emphasized that the protest wasn’t targeted at any specific party but rather at the systemic failure to address Delhi’s cleanliness crisis.

“This protest is not against any party,” she clarified. “Today, Delhi is in an unprecedentedly bad state. Every nook and corner of Delhi is dirty, roads are broken, and drains are overflowing.” She used the opportunity to highlight the disconnect between the ruling party and the lived realities of Delhi’s citizens, asserting that Kejriwal has lost touch with the ground realities of the city he governs. The garbage, she declared, was a “filthy gift” from the AAP government to the people of Delhi.

The INDIA bloc, a significant Opposition, experienced a significant setback in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC) mayoral elections on Thursday. Despite holding a seemingly comfortable numerical advantage, their joint candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), Prem Lata, lost to the BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla. This defeat highlights internal divisions and vulnerabilities within the Opposition coalition.

The election results revealed a surprising outcome. The BJP, possessing only 16 seats in the 35-member House, managed to secure 19 votes for their candidate, Harpreet Kaur Babla. The AAP-Congress alliance, with a combined strength of 19 councillors plus the additional vote of the Congress Member of Parliament from Chandigarh (an ex-officio member with voting rights), should have easily secured a majority. Their joint candidate, Prem Lata, however, only received 17 votes. The discrepancy strongly indicates significant cross-voting within the opposition ranks, undermining the INDIA bloc’s unified front.

The secret ballot nature of the election made it impossible to definitively pinpoint the defectors. Speculation abounds regarding potential reasons for the cross-voting, ranging from individual political ambitions to possible inducements or pressures from the ruling BJP. The loss raises serious questions about the coalition’s ability to present a cohesive and reliable challenge to the BJP in future elections. The incident serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the fragility of alliances and the potential for internal conflicts to derail even seemingly insurmountable numerical advantages.

This setback is particularly poignant considering the history surrounding Chandigarh’s mayoral elections. The 2024 mayoral poll saw a Supreme Court intervention, overturning a BJP victory due to the then-presiding officer’s controversial invalidation of eight AAP-supporting ballots. This previous legal battle highlighted the contentious political climate in Chandigarh and the lengths to which parties are willing to go to secure victory.

The current defeat underscores the continuing volatility of the political landscape and the BJP’s persistent ability to navigate complex electoral scenarios. The INDIA bloc will undoubtedly need to address the internal fissures exposed by this election to effectively challenge the BJP’s dominance.

On January 30, India solemnly commemorated the 77th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, a day observed as Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas or Sarvodaya Day). The nation paid tribute to the Father of the Nation at the Gandhi Smriti Memorial in Rajghat, a poignant site where Gandhi’s life and legacy are perpetually honoured. The ceremony, a solemn affair steeped in respect and remembrance, was led by President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside other prominent figures from India’s political landscape.

Their presence underscored the enduring reverence for Gandhi’s contributions to India’s independence and his global impact on movements for peace and justice.

The atmosphere was thick with reverence as the devotional song “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” filled the air. This bhajan, popularized by Gandhi himself and set to music by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in Raga Mishra Gara, holds a profound significance, inextricably linked to Gandhi’s spiritual and political journey.

Its melody served as a fitting tribute, echoing the peaceful principles he championed throughout his life. The choice of this particular song was not arbitrary; it represented the essence of Gandhi’s philosophy and the peaceful methods he employed in the struggle for Indian independence.

The tributes extended beyond the confines of the memorial ceremony. Prime Minister Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his profound respect, stating that Gandhi’s ideals continue to motivate the nation in its pursuit of becoming a developed country. He also paid tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom, emphasizing their selfless service and unwavering commitment.

Similar sentiments were echoed by BJP President J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, both using the X platform to convey their heartfelt tributes. Nadda emphasized Gandhi’s philosophy of self-reliance (Swadeshi) as the guiding principle for achieving “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (a self-reliant India), a key objective of the current government.

Shah highlighted Gandhi’s instrumental role in uniting India during the freedom struggle and his success in disseminating India’s values of truth, non-violence, and the fight against injustice on a global scale. He underscored Gandhi’s enduring influence on the nation’s pursuit of cleanliness, self-sufficiency, and rural empowerment.

Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy remains profoundly relevant. His unwavering commitment to non-violent resistance, his advocacy for truth, and his profound impact on India’s independence continue to inspire movements for social justice and peace worldwide.

His life and teachings serve as a constant reminder of the power of peaceful resistance and the enduring pursuit of a more just and equitable world. The commemorations on Martyrs’ Day served not just as a remembrance of his assassination but as a reaffirmation of the values he championed and a continued call to action for future generations.