AAP’s emergence is good not just for Indian politics but the Indian economy as well. As per the Central Statistical Office (CSO)’s provisional estimates for the last quarter, the Indian economy grew by an incremental 2% because of AAP voluntary work in the form of missed calls, filling of membership forms, symbolically cleaning mohallas, wearing AAP caps, and ‘engaging’ opponents in social media and professing admiration for Arvind Kejriwal.
“After imputing prices to such voluntary activity which falls under the services sector of the economy, we estimate that it added Rs. 1 lakh crores to the Indian GDP at current prices,” said CSO head, Dr.Pronab Sen.
Voluntary work for AAP has also reduced unemployment as many freshly graudated students say they have stopped looking for work now that they are gainfully employed with AAP. “Just wearing AAP cap makes me bristle with self-righteousness. It is so exciting to be part of new freedom struggle that AshutoshIBN7 sir keeps talking about,” cooed AAP volunteer and IIPM student, Amit Singh.
AAP says they will replace NREGA with AAP volunteering at a national scale as part of their vision for national development. “We haven’t finalized the manifesto but more activities like protesting against dams and Russian built nuclear plants and going on hunger strikes sometimes against fellow leaders will be brought under the gamut of acceptable voluntary work,” said AAP resident economist LoonyLeft Singh. “Indeed, such work is truly equitable, inclusive and fiscally sustainable.” Prashant Bhushan also wants to add holding of referendums to the list but there is no consensus on that as yet.
In related news, self-certified AAP leader Yogendra Yaadav demanded reservations in IIMs for those who failed to clear the CAT in keeping with his vision for imaginatively extending reservations beyond caste based on other dimensions of deprivation.
A few metro based AAP youth volunteers were upset and asked Yogi whether this meant more caste based reservations. When Yogi said it would have nothing to do with caste and would be based on criteria like height, skin complexion, location, these AAP volunteers felt reassured and they got back to their voluntary work with renewed gusto.
(Yogi pic strip idea conceived by Ajayendar Reddy)