New Delhi, Dec 29: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had called upon the Aam Aadmi (common man) come to the Ramlila Maidan in large numbers for the oath taking ceremony of his cabinet and they surely didn’t disappoint him.
It was a sea of white caps and Tricolour at the Ramlila Maidan which was packed to its capacity as Kejriwal and his ministers came to take oath.
The Ramlila Maidan, which was witness to the Jan Lokpal agitation in 2011, was witness to another history when leaders of a year-old party formed government in Delhi. People had reached ground by 8 am but the crowd started filling in only around 10 and by 11.30 the ground was almost packed. The strong crowd of 60,000 was dancing all along and raising slogans for the party.
The ceremony started with Kejriwal’s oath followed by his ministers and was over in less than 20 minutes. And then Kejriwal came on mike amidst huge cheers from public who were eagerly waiting for his address.
Kejriwal in his speech, started with his trademark Bharat Mata ki Jai, announced that today people of Delhi have become CM and ministers. “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.
Kejriwal also struck a chord with them when he announced formation of an anti-bribe helpline. “If anyone asks you for bribe for doing any of your legitimate work then don’t refuse … tell him you will pay and then inform us … we will catch him red handed,” said Kejriwal
The telephone number which would be made functional by mid next week would be to receive complaints against officials demanding bribe will function under the chief minister’s office.
“In most likelihood, a senior rank officer will head it,” sources said. Sources said that “exact modalities are being worked out and specific details will be out within two days as promised by Kejriwal.”
According to a senior Delhi government official, the complaint received on that anti-bribe helpline will be monitored by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) of the Delhi government. ACB comes under the home ministry, which is with the new chief minister.
He also reached out to Delhi BJP leader Dr Harsh Vardhan. He asked honest BJP and Congress leaders to rise above party lines and work with the AAP.
The Congress, which is supporting the AAP from outside, was absent from the function.
Comments
Add new comment