Saturday 25 January 2014

Arvind Kejriwal at Republic Day function: Media is being paid to write against AAP

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal seems to be in no mood to let up his revolution, the intense criticism coming his way notwithstanding. 



Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at the R-Day function in New Delhi on 25th January, 2014.
Speaking at the Republic Day eve function, defending his dharna against the Delhi Police, which garnered him and his fledgling political outfit all-round flak, Kejriwal claimed that what he did was not against the Constitution. "Some people said I worked against the Constitution. I re-read the Constitution, couldn't find where was it written that a CM can't hold a dharna." In fact, he said that the imposition of Sec 144 at his protest site was against the Constitution. And, as call to arms, Kejriwal made it amply clear that he would do it again if need be. "Whatever I can do from the Secretariat I will do from there, if not I will come to the streets to get work done." 

Kejriwal's biggest salvo of the day, however, was reserved for the media, which he claimed was being paid to do negative stories on the AAP. He bolstered his claim, saying, "A journalist called us up to tell us that his bosses asked him to go get a story against AAP. This journalist then went out and spoke to some random people and did not find a single person who said anything against the party."

Kejriwal reserved most of his ire for the system, saying the system as it has developed does not even provide for equality before law. He linked it to corruption claiming, "Had I also directed every police station that Rs.10 lakh should reach me every month, and then all would have been fine. After a rape in the city, if I had also said police is doing its work, investigation is on, then all would have been fine."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was aggressive, as usual, during his R-Day speech, but chose to remain silent on the controversy surrounding Somnath Bharti.
Kejriwal then made huge claims, saying, "In the last 25 days corruption has come down by 30 per cent. Auto drivers are saying that police has stopped taking bribe from us. Tea sellers say they have reduced rates since the police have stopped extorting money from them." The AAP's attempt to clean the system will not let honest men and women be victimised, he said, adding, "Police has many honest officers that is why we gave Rs.1 crore to officer who fought the liquor mafia".

On women security, Kejriwal said the Delhi government has constituted a committee on a separate wing for women security and it will be headed by the chief secretary.

The Delhi CM also assured the gathering that, "Jan Lokpal Bill is almost ready; we will pass it in a special session at Ramlila Maidan in February."


He ended his speech by singing 'Hum Honge Kamyab', in a move which is fast becoming his leitmotif.

The only discordant note of the morning was when Kejriwal did not wait for the parade commander's salute and walked off the podium beforehand, in a breach of protocol.



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