'Kejriwal made us proud'

Residents of Delhi CM's village celebrate his success

A sleepy town, Siwani was a hub of activity on Saturday as locals took out a march with brooms in their hands to celebrate the rise of the son of the soil Arvind Kejriwal, who was sworn in as Delhi chief minister, and burst fire crackers.

While several people from Siwani and nearby villages went to Delhi to witness Kejriwal’s oath-taking ceremony, those who stayed back broke into celebrations.

Residents of Siwani took out a march waving brooms, the AAP’s election symbol, in their hands and burst fire crackers.

While 45-year-old Kejriwal’s ancestors hailed from Kheda village of Bhiwani, the family is now based in Siwani village in the same district, over 300 km from here.

The house where Kejriwal was born was brimming with visitors who also met his father Murari Lal, 78, and congratulated him on the success of his son.

As Lal was not in good health, he did not travel to Delhi to witness the oath-taking ceremony in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.

Rajesh Kedia, who had studied with Kejriwal, said, “We are very proud of Arvind Kejriwal and entire Siwani is celebrating his success.”

‘Fulfil promises’

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday extended his wishes to Aam Aadmi Party for forming government in Delhi and asked it to fulfil promises made to people.

Replying to queries on AAP’s plans to contest polls in Haryana, Hooda said any political party can contest elections in a democratic set-up, but maintained that Congress was the number one party in the state and the fight for second and third spots would become clear after the polls.

On AAP’s emphasis on simplicity in politics, he said the Congress was founded on the ideology of simplicity of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi. When asked about Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s directives to Congress-ruled states, Hooda said Rahul wanted to end corruption and was taking measures for this.

In this regard, Rahul had stressed on the need for appointing Lokayuktas in all Congress-ruled states and to give powers to already appointed Lokayuktas as per the new Lokpal Bill, he said.

Rahul had also laid emphasis on controlling price rise by making fruits and vegetables free of Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, he said.

Hooda added that a decision would be taken to enforce strict law to deal with hoarders. The chief minister pointed out that the Food Security Bill had been implemented in the state and about 1.26 crore people people in the state would get its rice, wheat and dal at subsidised rates.

Hooda said he would look into the wealth tax being imposed in HUDA area over which there had been protests.