India could be No. 1 by ending corruption, says Kejriwal

Addressing the swearing-in ceremony of 9,193 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office-bearers in the state, New Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he aimed at making India the No. 1 in development index, adding that the same could be achieved by putting an end to corruption.

“In the 75 years since independence, India should have been the No. 1 country in the world, but we are lagging behind while several nations have surpassed us,” Kejriwal said, adding that if left to the mercy of the two political parties — Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, the country would go further backwards.

“It is time for people to take reins in their hands,” he said.

Kejrwial claimed that the public was looking for an alternative and that his party had done more work in five years of governance than what the BJP and Congress did in the last 75 years.

The Delhi chief minister also slammed the Narendra Modi-led central government for imposing goods and services tax (GST) on food items.

“The BJP government even levied GST on food items. The things were already getting dearer and it has further increased the prices,” said Kejriwal, adding that, in New Delhi, people have been given relief from inflation through free education and medical services. He further urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to vote for AAP to get similar relief from inflation.

Maintaining that only AAP has the formula to curb inflation, Kejriwal said the government would not need to impose taxes in a corruption-free set up.

Speaking about changing the political landscape, Kejriwal said “We want to indulge in positive politics. Ask people if they want positive politics, hospitals, schools, and roads they can vote for us and if they want dirty politics they can vote for others.”

Meanwhile, congratulating the party’s new office-bearers, Kejriwal said “Staunch honesty, patriotism and humanism were the three guiding principles of AAP and you should remain committed to these principles.”

Ask people if they want positive politics, hospitals, schools and roads or if they want to indulge in dirty politics.

ARVIND KEJRIWAL, New Delhi chief minister

AAP intends to bring change: Mann

Addressing the event, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said the party intended to bring a change. “You are working for the right cause and against the system. When you go against a system the beneficiaries of that system will try to harass you, but remember rivers carve out their own path,” he added

Party’s state president Surjeet Singh Thakur and Himachal election-in-charge Sandeep Pathak also addressed the gathering. The former administered the oath to the office bearers.