Chief Minister Kejriwal during his post-oath taking speech on Saturday said that to restart their movement against corruption, he will restart the helpline number where people can send recordings and complaints of people asking them for bribes.
While addressing a crowd of thousands, Kejriwal said, “I am making the same announcement that I made on December 28, 2013 from this same place. If in Delhi someone asks you for bribe, don’t refuse. Have a setting. Put your hand into your pocket and record everything using your mobile phone. If someone asks you for money, record their voice and give it to me.
We will take the strictest action against them. For this, we will start as soon as possible the telephone line which the corrupt used to fear during the 49-day Government. Second is the issue for which Anna Hazare and many of us protested at Ramlila Maidan, the Jan lokpal Bill. It is essential to pass it as soon as possible.”
Kejriwal also made references to receiving public fund for developing Delhi. However, while he did mention that the Government has enough money, which was “never utilised with the right intention”, he said, “Ever since our Government got voted to power, I am getting phone calls from various places. Someone called up to say: ‘You have promised to build 20 colleges. I will give money for the construction of three colleges.’ Some other person said: ‘Get the school made at such and such place, and I will provide you the land for the school.’ Then someone else said, ‘Bhai sahib, I will give 1,000 CCTV cameras to the Government.’ The people of this country are great!”
living by the party’s values, Kejriwal brought up the issue of VIP culture. He said that in a new initiative the Delhi Government will take, they will eventually bring an end to the VIP culture in Delhi. “We had launched this initiative during our 49-day rule last year when we disallowed red beacons on cars used by Delhi Government, be it the CM’s car or the Minister’s car.
I request my media friends with folded hands — don’t make fun of this. We say we will not take travel in a car with a beacon, and media says, ‘look, he is travelling in a car!’ How can we govern without travelling in a carIJ” he said, while similarly bringing up the point of taking up a house.
“Soon reports will start pouring in on how Kejriwal has shifted to a big bungalow! I know my status. I am a small man. I have 4-5 rooms in my house today. Wherever I go, why will I need more than 4-5 roomsIJ But I will need an office, otherwise how can a CM workIJ When you people come to meet me in the morning, won’t I need space so that I can have chairs to seat 400-500 peopleIJ Otherwise how will I functionIJ So I will take a house that meets these requirements,” he said.
Kejriwal even made references to miscreants who wear AAP caps and bully around and said if any AAP volunteer or worker indulges in hooliganism, he will be punished twice as much. During his speech, Kejriwal also said that he will work together with “good people” to govern Delhi where he added that he would even take advice from Kiran Bedi and Ajay Maken.
Kejriwal ended his speech with a word of praise for AAP’s volunteers. While he called them nothing less than diamonds and gold, several volunteers could be seen wiping their tears. “These unknown faces are the pillars of AAP,” Kejriwal said.