As a familiar, soft voice shouting “Bharat Mata Ki” cut through a crowd of thousands that responded with a thundering “Jai”, one knew it was none other than the aam aadmi Arvind Kejriwal, standing at a dais, addressing a massive gathering at the historic Ramlila Maidan. After taking oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi, exactly a year after he had tendered his resignation from the same post, Kejriwal’s speech echoed the sentiments of thousands present at the venue as he began his second stint as the Chief Minister of Delhi.
Calling the party’s victory with nine-tenth majority in the Assembly elections a miracle of God, Kejriwal said that there was a message to do something big, imbedded in the victory. The AAP 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 called Bedi his “elder sister”.
The Chief Minister who had exhorted his party to be humble and concentrate on serving the people of Delhi right after the AAP’s thumping victory early in the week, on Saturday sent out a subtle warning to volunteers and senior leaders of the AAP not to become arrogant because of the overwhelming mandate. He added that to ensure that arrogance doesn’t creep in, everyone in the party must introspect from time to time.
While indirectly speaking to a few senior leaders, Kejriwal said: “During the past few days, I have been watching people from my party say on TV that we will fight elections here and there. We will contest elections in five states, ten states, etc. I can see some amount of arrogance in these statements. I do not think this is right.”
Kejriwal elaborated that now the AAP would focus only on Delhi’s development for the next five years. 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 an approving roar.
Kejriwal said a helpline number he had announced in his first stint would be restarted — for people to complain about corruption. The Chief Minister also appealed to the media not to sit in judgement over what the AAP Government does. He said that while the party was working at fulfilling all promises as soon as possible, the media should refrain from putting deadlines on them.
“I get down from the car and mediapersons thrust a microphone at me asking how many hours I will take to do something. I would like to tell them that this is not how a Government functions. Other parties could not deliver in 65 years. We will deliver as soon as possible. But we will do substantive and good quality work. I promise you today, we will work 24 hours a day,” he stated while also mentioning that the Jan lokpal Bill would also be passed soon as the party had its roots in Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement.
Kejriwal also made a public appeal to Prime Minister Modi to grant Delhi full statehood as he narrated excerpts of his recent meeting with Modi. He also said that irrespective of whether any constituency or ward voted for AAP or not, he would work towards the development of all.
Further the Chief Minister also appealed to the people to pay their taxes honestly and assured them that on doing so, no one would be harassed by any Government employee or any department. “Every single paisa that you pay will be spent on the education of your children, on hospitals, roads and on improving your markets. We will also make parking lots with that money. We will spend that money on women’s security, on streamlining the water and power situation. We will not allow a single paisa of the tax you pay to be stolen. Therefore, you must pay taxes without any fear and with a big heart,” he said.
The newly-elected Chief Minister also made several references to secularism in his speech. While mentioning that people of every religion have voted for him, the “aam aadmi”, he said that his dream was to make Delhi a State where no one feels neglected, threatened or discriminated against due to the religion they belong to. “In the past few months, certain incidents have occurred in Delhi because of which the people of Delhi are extremely angry. There were attempts to spark riots between different religious communities, one church was set on fire and some churches were attacked. Delhi’s residents are peace loving people. In the past we have not seen such incidents in Delhi. People of Delhi - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains - all of us celebrate Diwali, Eid, Christmas and all other festivals and would like to live peacefully with each other. I would like to address all those powers that practice such communal politics to stop it. Delhi Police does not come under Delhi Government but even then, I believe that along with Delhi Police we will be able to make Delhi such a city where every Hindu, every Muslim, every Christian, every Sikh, people of every religion and caste will feel safe,” he said.