New Delhi: Holding out the promise of a "new beginning" in Indian politics, Arvind Kejriwal, who was sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister on Monday, said that in coming ten years India's "golden age" will be "restored".
"In coming ten years, the country will once again live up to its moniker of the golden bird (aane wale das saalon mein desh wapas sone ki chidiya kehlaiga)," Kejriwal said here.
Taking reins of power on Aam Aadmi plank, the new government in Delhi decided to shed vestiges of VIP culture by dispensing with security and red beacon cars for ministers and officials and promising action on free water supply and cutting down of power rates in the next few days.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who met officials of various departments shortly after taking oath of office and secrecy, also promised to get back on the issue of the steep increase in the price of compressed and piped natural gas effected on Thursday. He also promised there will be no witch-hunt against officials who work honestly and in people's interest. "No minister or official in Delhi government will be allowed to use red beacon," Kejriwal said after chairing the first cabinet meeting. The cabinet also decided that no Personal Security Officer and escort vehicle will be be provided to any official. "Security is to be allowed based on threat perception," he said.In a stirring 20-minute speech Kejriwal, who was sworn in on Monday as Chief Minister, asked the people, politicians and bureaucrats to "work together for a greater collective future of the country".
"People of Delhi will have to show it to the people that if we can come together, if all politicians come together and if all officials come together, then there is nothing that we cannot achieve," Kejriwal said drawing a resounding applause.
Wrapped in his usual 'aam aadmi' dress, , Kejriwal in his speech promised to the people a "corruption-free government" and "new style" of governance without "arrogance of power".
No minister or official in Delhi governement will use red beacon, decided Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on his first cabinet meeting.
Read more: Congress, BJP, Left congratulate CM Kejriwal
"Our aim was not to get power, to become CM or ministers but to hand the governance back into the hands of the people Kejriwal asked his minsters and partymen to shun arrogance. "We were born to remove the arrogance of big parties. We should be careful that no other party has to take birth to dismantle us," he said.
Minutes after assuming the reins of power, the 45-year-old Magsaysay award-winner laid out a preliminary roadmap for his government in his speech before holding the first cabinet meet later.
Chief Minister Kejriwal also asked everyone present at the venue to take a pledge to never indulge in corruption and concluded his speech with a Manna Dey song from the film 'Paigam'.
"Let us all take a pledge from this day to neither take nor give any bribe," he said. "And if anybody asks you for a bribe, don't give it.
Report it to us so that we can catch them red-handed. We will make India corruption-free," he added.
Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal arrives at Koshambi metro station. Kejriwal boarded the metro on Monday to take oath as Delhi Chief Minister at the Ramlila Maidan in the national capital as hundreds of people jostled with each other to board the train with him. There was no place to stand in the Metro premises and people were falling over each other as Kejriwal arrived to board the train.
Kejriwal waits for the train at Koshambi station. Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and other AAP supporters took the metro train around 11 a.m. Before boarding the train, Kejriwal said, "It is a beginning. The second fight for independence. Till this country gets freedom from corruption, famine and injustice, this fight will continue. It is the victory of the common man."Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung with Arvind Kejriwal and other cabinet ministers at a procession before oath ceremony at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi. "We will start our work the moment our swearing in ceremony is finished", said Kejriwal.Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administers the oath of office and secrecy to Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's seventh CM, who is Delhi's youngest CM too, at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi. 45-year-old Kejriwal, a former revenue service official, who scored a stunning debut in electoral politics winning 28 of the 70 seats promises a corruption-free govt and new style of governance without arrogance of power.Kejriwal speaks after taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister. "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". On the confidence motion on the floor of Delhi Assembly next week, Kejirwal said his party was not bothered about its fate as "we are not here to grab power".Kejriwal after taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister. "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". Kejriwal during the oath taking ceremony in New Delhi. In his 20 minutes long speech, Kejriwal said, "We don't have solutions to all problems. We don't have a magic wand to solve problems immediately. The fight is very long and we will need the support of people to end corruption in the capital and the country. The main problems in the country arise due to dirty politics and we have to clean it."Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administers the oath of office and secrecy to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister and party leaders Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Girish Soni, Rakhi Birla and Satyendra Jain as cabinet ministers during the oath-taking ceremony at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi.Kejriwal with cabinet ministers Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti, Rakhi Birla, Satyendra Jain, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Girish Soni waves after they took oath as ministers administered by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. "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," Kejriwal said to the a huge crowd at the Ramlila Maidan.Arvind Kejriwal signs a document after being sworn-in as Delhi Chief Minister, at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi. Kejriwal had said that AAP's fight is not over till the country is free of corruption.Arvind Kejriwal, center, pays respect at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi after being sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi, in New Delhi. Tens of thousands of people cheered as the anti-corruption crusader who heads a new political party vowing to uproot graft from Indian politics was sworn in as the chief minister of India's capital.Arvind Kejriwal pays his respect at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi after being sworn in as the CM of Delhi. "I don't believe that all bureaucrats are corrupt. I will not hesitate in admitting that most officers are honest. It is also a challenge before the bureaucracy to deliver a corruption free regime," Kejriwal said.Arvind Kejriwal, center, leaves after paying respect at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. "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," Kejriwal said.A supporter holds a broom, the party symbol of Aam Aadmi Party and greets Arvind Kejriwal, inside car, after the latter was sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi. "I used to suggest Anna Hazare that if we want to clean the system, then we will have to get down in this 'dirty politics'. Hazare was opposed to entering into politics. I told him that we will have to enter it to clean it", said Kejriwal.Arvind Kejriwal addresses the media after assuming the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi in New Delhi. As per decision of first meeting of the cabinet presided by CM Arvind Kejriwal, no minister or official in Delhi Government are allowed to use red beacon, or personal security or escort car. Security to be allowed based on threat perception, Delhi cabinet decides.Arvind Kejriwal talks on a phone as he is seated to assume the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi in New Delhi.Arvind Kejriwal drinks water as he sits to assume the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi in New Delhi.Delhi CM Kejriwal with cabinet ministers before the start of the cabinet meeting at Delhi Secretariat in New Delhi.
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