President Pranab Mukherjee delivering his address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day.
On the eve of India entering its 65th year as a republic, President Pranab Mukherjee gave a hard-hitting speech. Even though he didn't directly name the Aam Aadmi Party, his remarks on "popular anarchism" were seen as a veiled attack on Arvind Kejriwal and his team.
"Government is not a charity shop. Populist anarchy cannot be a substitute for governance. Equally dangerous is the rise of hypocrisy in public life. Elections do not give any person the license to flirt with illusions. Those who seek the trust of voters must promise only what is possible," the President said.
But the Aam Aadmi Party refuses to accept the president was referring to them. "I am sure President meant the larger situation in the country," party leader Yogendra Yadav said.
When asked if the President could be hinting at the midnight raid by Delhi's law minister Somnath Bharti in the capital's Khirki Extension and the 'dharna' by the Chief Minister that followed, Mr Yadav said, "The President doesn't have time for such petty things."
Mr Kejriwal had famously declared himself an 'anarchist' as he led the two-day sit-in with his Cabinet earlier this week protesting against the Delhi Police which AAP accused of dereliction of duty in acting against alleged drug and sex traffickers from Africa.
Taking a dig at both the Congress and the BJP, Mr Yadav added, "There is a populist anarchy in the country which faces the challenges of authoritarianism and dynasty politics."
Meanwhile, the comments started a conversation both off and online. Mr Kejriwal endorsed a tweet by filmmaker Shekhar Kapur who said, "Dear Mr President. Activism n Anarchy r not the same. Anarchy was 1984 when mobs went on rampage killing Sikhs. Provoked by State n Police (sic)."
Mr Kapur may have a difference of opinion, but the political parties agreed with the President's remark. "We need to respect the Presidents words," Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said.
The BJP's Harsh Vardhan advised the Delhi Chief Minister to rise above anarchism that the President has warned about.
Definitely not the last words on anarchism and populism we would hear ahead of the general elections, due by May.