Arvind Kejriwal sworn in, promised to make Delhi India’s first corruption-free state

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 14, 2015: Exactly a year after he resigned, Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday took oath as Delhi Chief Minister for a second time at the Ramlila Maidan, the sprawling grounds in central Delhi which used to be the site of the massive India Against Corruption movement.

As nearly 50,000 jubiliant supporters watched on a sunny afternoon in the national capital, the AAP leader, despite running a high fever, was administered the oath of office by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. AAP’s second-in-command Manish Sisodia was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.

Beginning his speech with the revolutionary slogan, "Inquilab zindabad," Kejriwal said, "I remember, during the Anna (Hazare) agitation we asked for a corruption-free India. Even our opposition agreed that during our 49 days rule, we were able to end corruption in Delhi."
 
"Now, we are much more confident. We will make Delhi India’s first corruption free state," Kejriwal said to a thunderous applause. "We want to stop this VIP culture. Do you like it when a minister is travelling and roads are blocked and traffic jammed for an hour?" he asked.

"I came to know in European countries, prime ministers are seen standing at bus stops. We need such type of culture. It will take time. But we will do it," Kejriwal, who led his party’s comeback to power with an unprecedented 67 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, said.

The other five ministers sworn-in on Saturday were Asim Ahmed Khan, Satyendra Jain, Jitendra Tomar, Gopal Rai and Sandeep Kumar. The announcement of the Cabinet was slammed on Twitter for not including any woman, unlike Kejriwal’s first Cabinet with Rakhi Bidlan as a minister.

Other AAP leaders present in the ceremony were Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishwas, actors Javed Jaffrey and Gul Panag. BJP’s chief ministerial candidate and Kejriwal’s former Team Anna colleague, Kiran Bedi, chose to skip the ceremony despite being invited.

After the AAP’s stunning victory on Tuesday, Kejriwal had spent the last three days meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a series of other leaders and inviting them to his swearing-in. Modi had regretted his inability to attend because of a prior engagement in Pune.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday