New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal today gave an impromptu speech at the oath taking ceremony of Aam Aadmi Party government at Ramlila Maidan.
In his speech, Kejriwal appealed to the people of Delhi not to pay bribes to get work done.
He said, a telephone number will be given to people to complain about any government staff
asking bribe, and the culprit would be nailed within two days.
Kejriwal promised a corruption-free government and appealed to parties including Congress and BJP to support his government.
Kejriwal asked his ministers and all AAP workers not to 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 if we become arrogant”.
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 as a huge crowd cheered him.
In his 20-minute speech, Kejriwal said it was a hsitoric day and the formation of his government was 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, he said. “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.
Kejriwal referred to BJP leader Harshvardhan as an honest man.
“I know Harshvardhan 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.
On 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 all officials “need not worry” and they should start working honestly.
