Let's catch corrupt red-handed, Delhi CM Kejriwal to Aam Aadmi
PTI, NEW DELHI | 28 December 2013 15:35 IST
Team Kejriwal of AAP after taking oath at Ramlila Maidan
Heralding a new era of politics of governance, Arvind Kejriwal took over as the Chief Minister of Delhi promising a corruption-free government and appealed to parties including Congress and BJP to support his government.
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal today took oath as the seventh Chief Minster of Delhi. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administered the oath of office and secrecy to Kejriwal and six other ministers at the Ramlila Maidan here.
In a warning to his ministers and partymen, Kejriwal said they should not get arrogant with power. "We were born to remove the arrogance of big parties. We should be wary that no other party has to take birth to dismantle us".
On the confidence motion on the floor of Delhi Assembly next week, he said his party was not bothered about its fate as "we are not here to grab power".
"Whether we pass or fail in the test of confidence motion...we are ready to face elections, if we fail. The people will vote us with a huge majority," he said to cheers from a huge crowd at the historic Ramlila Maidan, the fast venue of the campaign for Jan Lokpal Bill initiated by Anna Hazare more than two years ago.
Six ministers - Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti, Rakhi Birla, Satyendra Jain, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Girish Soni - also took oath of office and secrecy at the ceremony. After the ceremony, Kejriwal visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat to pay homage.
In his 20-minute speech, Kejriwal called the day very historic and formation of his government a "victory of the aam aadmi (common man)".
"It is not Kejriwal who took oath today but it is the common man...it is the victory of the common man," he said, adding "the road to truth is not easy but full of thorns and we will face all future challenges".
"We are not here to grab power but to give governance back in the hands of people. Now, 1.5 crore people of Delhi will run the government," he said.
Delhi has shown the country that politics can be done with honesty. "We had lost all hope and thought that politics is hooliganism and corruption.But in Delhi Assembly elections, people have proved that politics can be done with honesty, elections can be fought and won with honesty," he said.
While appealing to people from all political parties including BJP and Congress to support them, Kejriwal referred to BJP's Harshvardhan as an honest man.
"I know Harsh Vardhan personally and can say that he is a good man, but I can't say about his party. I appeal to other Congress, BJP and other parties. If you feel we are going the right way, forget your parties and support us," he said.
Talking about his mentor Anna Hazare, Kejriwal said, "Anna used to say that politics is dirty. Two-and-a-half years back, Annaji held a 13-day fast to remove corruption and to get the Janlokpal bill passed. In these last two years, we did every possible thing. We fasted, agitated but nothing happened. Gradually it became clear that without changing country's politics we cannot get rid of corruption".
"I used to suggest Anna that if we want to clean the system, then we will have to get down in this 'dirty politics'," he said
Suggesting a unique way of trapping corrupt officials, Kejriwal asked Delhiites that if somebody asks for bribe then not "don't refuse them".
"Instead, do a 'setting'. We will give you a phone number within two days, where you can complain about such bureaucrats and we catch them red-handed," he said.
Later at Rajghat, Kejriwal said that corrupt officials "need not worry" and they should start working honestly.
Corruption percolates from top to bottom.
If Ministers are not corrupt, nobody will dare to indulge in corruption.
Corruption thrives only with the blessings of politicians.
Let Delhi set an example of corruption free government and administration to all other states of India.