On anniv, AAP govt will answer public calls

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues will answer the phone calls from the people of Delhi in a “telethon” on the occasion of completing one year in the office. Announcing the initiative to mark the first anniversary of the AAP government, Kejriwal said that on the occasion the Cabinet will get the feedback of people and offer them a report card. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government completes a year on Sunday, February 14.

“AAP completes one year in government on February 14. My Cabinet will give an account of work done in one year to people on that day. On February 14 between 11 am to 1 pm, our Cabinet will also take questions and suggestions from people on phone,” said Kejriwal in a tweet on Tuesday. However, the government has not yet finalised the venue of the event but the modalities have been worked out. Instead of a mega celebrations across the city, the party is preparing for a rally and a Q&A with the public. It may make an announcement on bringing back the odd-even rule for cars, which turned out to be a favourite. According to sources in the government, the concept may have been inspired by the Hindi film “Nayak”, where a journalist-turned chief minister takes phone calls at a public platform while his PA jots down instructions on the spot. The Chief Minister has reportedly ordered various departments to give details of their work in the past year.

The AAP government had organised a similar event after crossing the 100-day mark. The entire Cabinet compared their achievements with those of the Narendra Modi government in the same span.

February 14 was the date Kejriwal chose for his swearing in last year after winning the Delhi election. It was exactly a year to the day after he quit as Chief Minister after a 49 day-stint in power — a move for which he was derided by rivals and excoriated by critics. Kejriwal apologised for quitting and promised during his poll campaign that he would stay at least five years and live up to the slogan “Paanch Saal Kejriwal (Kejriwal for five years)”. “Give us five years before criticising us. What we have done in one year many governments haven’t achieved in five years,” said Adarsh Shastri, one of the 21 Parliamentary secretaries appointed by AAP.