New Delhi: As he took oath for the third consecutive time Sunday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made one thing clear — his national ambitions had not been forgotten.
In a speech peppered with conciliatory notes, a strident defence of his ‘freebie politics’, gratitude to his Delhi “family” and chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, the underlying tone was that Kejriwal looked forward to serving the country just as he has the national capital.
“Mere pyaare Dilli wasiyon (My beloved Delhi people),” the chief minister began, before adding, “This is not my victory, this is your victory. This is every Delhiites win, every mother, every sister, every student and every family’s victory.”
Speaking to a raucous crowd at the Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal reached out to not just his political opponents but also those who didn’t share his ideology.
“In the elections, some voted for AAP, while some for the BJP and Congress,” he said. “But today when I take oath, I am the chief minister for all. I am AAP’s chief minister, BJP’s chief minister, Congress chief minister and other parties as well.”
He added that the 2 crore people of Delhi were his family and that he would work for everyone regardless of caste, class or party preferences. “We will make Delhi beautiful with all of you,” the chief minister said.
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In forgiving opponents, national ambitions
The Delhi chief minister, long known to hold grouses against the Narendra Modi government, struck a conciliatory note Sunday. “I had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ceremony. Through this platform, I wish to seek his blessings for Delhi,” he said.
Kejriwal also said he forgave his political opponents for what was a vitriolic and divisive election campaign, which saw BJP MP Parvesh Verma calling him a “terrorist”.
“I forgive all my opponents for their remarks against me.I want to take everyone along. I will not work alone but with all of you,” he said.
He juxtaposed it with what he had to offer, underlining his national ambitions. “You all have given birth to a new kind of politics — kaam ki rajniti, school ki rajneeti, sasti bijli ki rajniti, paani ki rajniti, aurat ki suraksha ki raajniti (the politics of work, the politics of schools, the politics of cheap electricity, the politics of women’s safety),” the chief minister said, adding that this was the “politics of 21st century India”.
He further said that other state governments were borrowing the AAP-led government’s schemes, be it the education model or the city’s mohalla clinics. “The people of Delhi have created history. Our model is being replicated across the country,” he said.
Kejriwal defends freebies
The chief minister also addressed the controversial issue of his politics of freebies, stating that all valuable things in life were free.
“I have been accused of distributing freebies. But all good things in the world, like a mother’s love and a father’s blessings, are free,” he said. “Delhi loves Kejriwal. I love Delhi. This love is for free.”
The chief minister further said that it was this love for his Delhi family that did not allow his conscience to take money from students or families seeking treatment.
He emphasised that his government’s focus was to bring vikas (development) to the people of Delhi. “Everyone should call up their villages to let people know that our CM is back and there is no need to worry,” Kejriwal said.
The occasion saw huge crowds and a festive atmosphere. A buoyed chief minister even sang “Hum Hogein Kamyaab (We shall overcome)”, well enough for the crowd to take his lead and sing after him.
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