JOIN USCM defends his dharna
In his first speech as the Chief Minister of Delhi at the Republic Day celebrations of city government, Arvind Kejriwal defended his dharna against Delhi Police. He asserted that he has not done anything unconstitutional.
“I read the Constitution but could not find anywhere that a Chief Minister cannot hold a dharna. I staged a dharna to raise the issue of women’s security,” he said.
He slammed the law enforcement agency for imposing section 144 of CrPC (which prohibits assembly of five or more persons at a place) at his protest venue.
“The authorities imposed section 144 after knowing my plan of a sit-in. It forced me to think how the Delhi’s Chief Minister can become a security threat. What was the need of imposing section 144? I did not go against the Constitution,” Kejriwal added.
He again shielded his government behind the “aam aadmi” phenomenon and said, “If I had taken a bungalow, a big car with cavalcade and then called a senior police officer and asked him to get me Rs 10 lakh from each police station per month, would it have made everything all right?” he said.
Kejriwal reassured that the draft of much-awaited Jan Lokpal Bill is ready and it will be passed in a special Assembly session in Ramlila Ground.
He also emphasised the Swaraj concept and said the Bill is likely to be finalised in next 15 days.
Mohalla sabhas
“Mohalla sabhas (neighbourhood assemblies) will be set up across the city. We will give them funds and they will decide about spending the money on their area. In the weekly meetings, they will decide whether to spend the money on power, water, street lights, roads or other amenities,” he said.
Kejriwal handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to the family of a Delhi Police constable who died in an attack by the liquor mafia in December last year.