NEW DELHI: India’s anti-corruption icon Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in as Delhi’s new chief minister on Saturday and immediately urged his supporters to not hesitate to give bribes if they could take a picture or a voice recording of the transaction.

Capping a momentous journey, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader promised to make Delhi India’s first corruption-free state and said he would take tough measures against communal elements.

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administered the oath of office

and secrecy to Mr Kejriwal. His close aides Manish Sisodia and five other ministers also took the oath at Delhi’s historic Ramlila Grounds, exactly one year after he quit in a huff after a 49-day regime.

Asim Ahmed Khan, Sandeep Kumar, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai and Jitender Singh Tomar also took oath of office and secrecy at the ceremony as a large crowd cheered.

Immediately after taking the oath, the 46-year-old leader addressed the gathering and unveiled the priorities of his government which included steps against corruption, communal elements, VIP culture and assured Delhi residents that his government would fight for full statehood for the national capital.

Warning his party leaders and workers against arrogance, he said this was the reason for the defeat of Congress and India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata, which had received a huge majority in Lok Sabha polls just nine months ago.

Terming the verdict a ‘miracle of God’, Mr Kejriwal said: “I knew people of Delhi love me, but didn’t know they love me so much.”

The AAP had won 67 of the 70 seats in Delhi, decimating Congress and leaving only three seats for the BJP.

Assuring people that his government would make Delhi India’s first corruption-free state, he said “if somebody asks for bribe, don’t refuse; ‘setting ker lena’ (fix the deal) and video record it.

“Send the video footage to me. I will take action.”

Published in Dawn February 15th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play