JOIN US'A visit to slums every morning if I become CM'
If Kiran Bedi does become Delhi’s chief minister and keeps her word, you could well see her visit some jhuggi or the other every morning.
Addressing a crowd in south Delhi prior to PM Modi’s speech, Bedi reiterated that improving the lives of those in the jhuggis and unauthorised colonies was on her priority list.
“I will visit one jhuggi or the other every morning at 9. You can find out every day whether I have visited a slum or an unauthorised colony that day or not,” she said.
She said the aim would be to get the real picture of the situation of water, power and whether there are provisions for medical treatment and education.
“I will take along with me the local MLA, municipal corporator and government officials so that they know the problems of those residents and can act,” she added.
She claimed that apart from her 40 years in government service, she had worked for a considerable time with slum dwellers.
“Look at the jhuggis I have worked in. They now are equipped with schools and dispensaries. The children from those jhuggis are doing well in life,” she said.
Wooing poor
She said the national capital was beyond the posh New Delhi areas and that the real Delhi was in the slums and unauthorised colonies of the national capital.
“Thanks to my party workers, I have travelled to every nook and corner of Delhi and know the issues,” she said.
No harm would ever come on jhuggi residents, autorickshaw drivers, rickshaw pullers and street vendors if BJP came to power, she said.
“I have never let any of these people come to any harm,” she said. She said a lot of money was required to construct buildings in place of the jhuggis.
“That money will come from Modi ji,” she told the crowd.She said the people would be provided a helpline number to inform if any policeman or government official asked for bribe.
“If anyone seeks a bribe, ask them why should they ask for money when your mother Kiran Bedi never sought a bribe,” she said.
Bedi said the print and television media do not inform people about everything that happen.
“Through a radio programme Dil Ki Baat, I will tell you every month what the media does not tell you,” she said.
Taking an indirect dig at Arvind Kejriwal, she said she would not rule by blackmailing or suspending officials.
“Punishment will be meted out only to those who do not improve despite repeated attempts. They will then be sent to Tihar jail,” she said, adding she was someone who knew the working of inside Tihar as well outside it.
DH News Service