Mood changes: Remember Delhi in December 2012?

New

, Dec 8: Delhi can never forget December 2012. A woman was brutally gangraped and her friend beaten by four men in the heart of the city on 16 December 2012. The woman, later, succumbed to internal injuries.

The incident triggered massive protests across the country, especially in the national capital region. Students and youngsters took to the streets of Delhi, protesting against the government, calling for action against culprits. The government, already battered by corruption allegations, was shaken further.

The protests indicated lack of confidence in the government. Most of the youngsters said they had lost trust in the system. An atmosphere of lack of hope and confidence prevailed in Delhi in 2011 Decemeber.

Sheila Dikhshit's comments on women's safety has landed her in troubles several times. Remember Soumya Vishwanathan, a journalist who was shot dead by unknown assailants in Delhi in 2008. Sheila had said Soumya was being 'too adventerous' by venturing out alone at night. She was widely slammed in 2011 too, for her insensitive comments.

With the emergence of Aam Aadmi Party and Modi as a national-level leader, the political scenario in Delhi reclaimed the lost vibrance. Nirbhaya agitation was a gamechanger for Delhi as it saw young people coming out on streets and protesting against the ruling government in largescale, instead of holding mere candlelight vigils.

Aam Aadmi Party cashed in on the youth power and they succeeded in restoring youngster's faith in democracy. Kejriwal, a former government servant, knew the system thoroughly. With RTI petitions and raising voice against corrupt officials and politicians, he earned the trust of people.

BJP's star campaigner Narendra Modi, with his speeches and claims of development in Gujarat, successfully turned the voters against Sheila government. Modi, through his speeches, reminded the people of UPA's incapabilities. And Congress under the rather clumsy leadership of Rahul Gandhi, couldn't hit back at Modi effectively.

As a result of all these, the capital city's people dropped their cynicism behind and came out to vote in 2013. The Congress' debacle is a reflection of people's ire.

Also, the victory of Kejriwal and AAP shows that people haven't lost hope and confidence in democracy.

Oneindia News