Delhi CM Atishi Reflects on Political Journey at St. Stephen’s College

New Delhi, Dec 7 (NationPress) After a span of twenty-three years since her graduation from the distinguished St. Stephen’s College in Delhi University, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi revisited the campus on Saturday to engage with students and present her political journey.

During her speech on Founder’s Day at her alma mater, the Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Oxford University scholar remarked, "When I was a student, politics was deemed a ‘dirty business’. It was seen as a realm for thugs, a field where individuals in pristine, starched kurta-pyjamas operated. Middle-class parents often advised their children to steer clear of politics and politicians."

“However, that perception has shifted,” she added.

The Delhi Chief Minister elaborated on the hurdles she has encountered in her political career. "This journey has posed challenges, yet it has been rewarding due to the transformations we've initiated and the impact we've achieved," she stated, reflecting on her decade-long involvement with the ruling AAP in Delhi.

Encouraging the youth to become catalysts for change, she said, "The changes that occur in our nation lie not in the hands of others but in our own. If we perceive issues and change isn’t materializing, we cannot solely blame others; we all share responsibility. As citizens, we will receive the governance we demand."

She emphasized that politics has evolved into a viable career option today, noting that during her college years, most students were unaware of how to enter the political arena or that those wishing to effect change seldom viewed politics as a pathway.

"The landscape has transformed now," she asserted, underscoring that when principled individuals evade politics, crucial decisions regarding our lives end up in the hands of elected officials.

"Consequently, decisions about educational opportunities for me and my children, as well as healthcare provisions, will be determined by politicians," she remarked during her address, which she shared on a social media platform.

"My personal safety when leaving home and my employment prospects post-education are also influenced by politicians," she stated.

“When educated, well-intentioned individuals withdraw from politics, we risk allowing the most critical choices regarding our lives to be made by the least suitable individuals,” she added.

Motivating people to partake in politics to instigate change, she emphasized, "There is an urgent need for individuals who value this country to engage with politics and uphold democracy."

Addressing the challenges encountered in the quest for change, the CM expressed her astonishment at the extent of vested interests within politics.

"We were taken aback by the level of obstruction and the various vested interests at play. For over a year, many of my colleagues have faced incarceration due to our confrontations with these interests," she remarked, indirectly referencing former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's imprisonment amid the liquor policy scandal.

"This raises the question: should young individuals contemplate this path? My emphatic answer is: ABSOLUTELY. You must," declared the Delhi CM.

"My life took a turn when I stepped into a dilapidated government school as a politician in 2015," Atishi recounted.

“Today, 2,000 students from government schools have excelled in IIT-JEE and NEET, securing placements in esteemed engineering and medical institutions,” she noted.

When the government implemented free bus rides, skepticism prevailed. Yet today, 1.1 million women utilize this service daily, thanks to the effective policies of the Delhi government, she remarked.

“This progress instills hope that if decision-making rests in the hands of capable individuals, India has the potential to transform,” Atishi concluded.