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Kejriwal to make Delhi corruption-free, denounces arrogance
Sounding more mature and pragmatic in his second innings, AAP leader and
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday vowed to make Delhi the
country's first corruption-free city and end "VIP culture" even as he
warned party colleagues against "arrogance" after the AAP's thumping
victory.
Addressing an estimated 100,000 cheering supporters at
the Ramlila Maidan - he had made a special appeal over radio to people
to come - after being sworn in, Kejriwal also sought statehood for
Delhi, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had too many issues to take
care of and that Delhi must be left to Delhiites.
And in comments
that drew a positive response, the Aam Aadmi Party leader -- sporting
his party's white cap with the words "Main hoon aam aadmi" (I am a
common man) -- reached out to his vanquished rivals, Kiran Bedi of the
BJP and Ajay Maken of the Congress, saying he would consult both on how
to develop Delhi. He described Kiran Bedi as his "elder sister".
"After
our (earlier) 49 days in office, we have the confidence that we will
finish off corruption in Delhi," the 46-year-old said to loud cheers.
"We have to make Delhi the first corruption-free city in India. We can
do it."
And repeating the lines from his Ramlila Maidan speech of
2013, Kejriwal urged people to covertly record on their mobile phones
demands for bribes by officials and send the recording to him. "We will
take the strictest action," he said, triggering another roar of
approval.
Kejriwal said a Helpline number he had announced in his
first stint would be restarted -- for people to complain about
corruption. His government would also pass the Jan Lokpal bill.
The
huge gathering packing the sprawling ground in the heart of the capital
went wild as he took the oath of office and secrecy from Lt Governor
Najeeb Jung -- followed by six ministers -- and then addressed them in
Hindi. The six included his long-time confidant Manish Sisodia, who will
be the deputy chief minister, Satyendra Jain, Sandeep Kumar, Gopal Rai,
Asim Ahmad Khan and Jitendra Singh Tomar. Sisodia and Jain were in the
earlier Kejriwal government too.
Speaking from his heart,
Kejriwal admitted that the AAP's decision to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha
election -- he himself took on Modi in Varanasi and lost -- was a
blunder.
He urged his ministers, legislators and AAP colleagues
never to show arrogance, saying this is what which destroyed the
Congress and the BJP. "If arrogance creeps in, we will not be able to
fulfil our mission."
The AAP swept an incredible 67 of the 70
seats, leaving just three to the BJP. "I know people of Delhi love us.
But I didn't know they love us so much." Calling the result a "miracle",
he said God was trying to convey a message. "We have to understand the
message."
Like last time, Kejriwal announced a ban on what he
called VIP culture, including red beacon lights on official vehicles and
strutting around in public places with a phalanx of security. He said
Indians wanted a society where political leaders would also travel in
buses like in many countries in Europe.
The income tax
official-turned-activist-turned-chief minister, who has been suffering
from fever for some days, sounded unwell. He told the crowd that he had
come to the venue after taking Crocin.
The AAP leader decried
statements attributed to AAP leaders that after the Delhi victory, the
party would expand in other states. This, he said, also smacked of
arrogance.
"God has ordered us, the people of Delhi have ordered
us to serve them... All the coming five years I will serve only the
people of Delhi."
He said he told Prime Minister Modi that the
AAP stood for "constructive cooperation" with the central government,
and it was high time the capital Delhi was granted full statehood.
"As
prime minister, he is very busy. He has to think about the country, he
has to go abroad... Please leave Delhi to the people of Delhi... I am
confident Modi will think about this positively."
He said that
although Delhi Police didn't come under his control, he was confident
his government would make Delhi a secure city for people of all
religions and communities.
Referring to the Hindu-Muslim riots in
east Delhi and the recent attacks on churches and Christian
institutions, Kejriwal said Delhi had never seen troubles of this sort
for 35 years.
"People of Delhi want peace. They won't tolerate this... We want to live in peace."
He
ended his 30-minute address, by singing a song on brotherhood and
communal amity, which he asked the crowd to sing with him,
demonstrating yet again how this unusual, and in some ways maverick,
politician stood out from the rest.