Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seems to be in a self-evaluation mode for his government these days. On Sunday, May 17, Kejriwal claimed that corruption had come down by “70-80%” after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) started ruling the state, citing an example of his daughter testing an official with a “bribe” offer.
Speaking at a public meeting with auto-rickshaw drivers in Burari area of Outer Delhi, Kejriwal, while acknowledging that the state is yet to be corruption free said, “I will not say that we have completely ended corruption in Delhi but it has come down by 70-80%.”
During its election campaign, corruption was one of the major issues AAP sought to curb once voted to power. On April 5, the AAP government re-launched its anti-corruption helpline 1031 and asked people to send sting videos of corrupt officials. The helpline has received over 1.25 lakh calls.
Kejriwal seems to be satisfied with the deliverance of his government. The chief minister narrated his daughter’s experience of applying for a learner’s driving license and how she found out that officials were now wary of taking bribe.
“My daughter went to get her learner’s driving license. I could have called the department and officers could have made it for me. But my daughter went to the office and waited for her turn. She told the officer (without revealing her identity) that she is not carrying one of the certificates which were required and the officer declined to make her license,” he said.
“She further tried to bribe him by offering money. As she offered money (to test him), this officer started looking at her phone to find out if she was making a video. My daughter insisted that it was urgent and she was ready to pay any amount but the officer refused it,” Kejriwal said.
The CM told the gathering that after a few minutes, his daughter returned to the officer and gave him her documents.
“The officer after reading her name and my name in father’s section asked her if she was the daughter of chief minister of Delhi, and then entire department came forward to make her license.”
“This shows the level of corruption has come down in the city. Even auto drivers have given me feedback. Corrupt officers are afraid while the honest officers are moving fearlessly,” Kejriwal said.
The chief minister also asked auto drivers to work honestly and serve the people of the city.
“It is your responsibility to do public service. You have to work with honesty. Recently, DTC people went on a two-day strike. Most of the auto drivers were over-charging then. Do not take undue advantage when people are in crisis.”
“If you serve your passengers with honesty, then they will stand by you and ask for a hike in your fare. I will take care of your children, if you promise to serve the people of this city,” Kejriwal said.
