Kiran Bedi joins BJP but her 'dictatorial tendencies' are worrying some leaders

New Delhi: Two days after her induction in the BJP, Kiran Bedi still evokes mixed reaction in the party. While the workers are visibly happy to have a strong candidate leading them in the assembly elections, a few leaders still have reservations about her ability to take everyone in the party with her. The enthusiasm among the former was palpable during the visit of Bedi to the Delhi BJP headquarters on Friday. The workers who had been disappointed by the lack of energy in the party so far, looked rejuvenated. She was greeted with the slogan Delhi Ka CM Kaisa Ho, Kiran Bedi Jaisa Ho (the ideal CM for Delhi is Kiran Bedi). Their excitement was shared by other senior leaders. “The party will gain new energy with her joining. Now, we will be able to deliver the benefits of development and the welfare schemes to the last person in Delhi,” said BJP -state president Satish Upadhyay while welcoming Bedi in the party fold. [caption id=“attachment_2051001” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Kiran Bedi’s joining the BJP. PTI[/caption] Prabhat Jha, in charge of the party unit, said, “We are proud that the first woman IPS officer of the country is joining our family. The party workers are enthusiastic with her induction, which will strengthen the party. Realising the dream of the development of Delhi will now become easy and the women in the city will also feel safe.” Another leader said she is an acceptable face and BJP can get 38 to 40 seats in the 70-member assembly by asking her to lead. But not everyone within the party is happy with the development. “It is true that her entry into the BJP has given a new life to the state unit. The morale of the workers, who had previously gone idle because of infighting within the party, has got a boost. But such outsourcing and so much attention to a newcomer is a little unjust for those who have spent their lives as loyal workers of the party,” a founding member of the Delhi BJP told Firstpost on the condition of anonymity. He said though Bedi carries a celebrity status she is new in politics and not experienced to lead the party and understand its structure that has linkages with many other outfits working with a different modus operandi. “Let’s wait and watch how she works with the RSS and deals with its affiliates like VHP, Bajrang Dal, etc,” he said. Based on her track record as a police officer, a few leaders of the party described her as someone having “dictatorial tendencies”. “She is rude and arrogant. Her dictatorial tendencies may have an adverse impact on the party’s prospect. It will be difficult for workers to work with her. Since we work under the umbrella of the BJP, we will follow instructions of our leader as obedient foot soldiers,” another leader said. Bedi, however, looked oblivious to such criticism. Her confidence reflected amply in her address to party workers. “The political workers should also become social reformers. If needed, we will have to work for cleaning the slum clusters with our own hands,” she added and apprised the people about the works being done by her organisation Nav Jyoti Foundation in Jhuggi Jhopri colonies in the last 26 years. On rising crime against women in the city, she said it is necessary that all the parents provide safety to their daughters and also teach their sons to respect women and senior citizens. “We will have to inculcate spirit of service for the country among children,” she added. Mentioning about 6Ps (parents, preachers, politicians, prevention, prison and press), she said that the parents are the first teachers, pundits (priest) or maulvis (clerics) to teach them morality. “The political workers may become means of social experiment and provide a sense of security by community policing. Jails may also become means of reform and press a tool of change. By using these 6Ps, we shall be able to make Delhi a world class city,” she said. Stressing the need to strengthen civil defense, the former police officer said, “Civil defence will be a force under the Delhi government to provide security to the women, schools, local shopping centers and places of worship.” Responding to a question posed by Firstpost on the demands of bringing Delhi Police under the ambit of Delhi government to control rising crimes in the national capital, she said, “I am satisfied with the current performance of the Delhi Police. It is doing a good job. It does not matter who rules it. An effective policing is needed to curb crimes.”