Striking a conciliatory note, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "blessing" for Delhi's progress and said that he "forgave" his rivals for the remarks against him during the campaign, while crediting the people of the city with ushering in a new kind of politics which is development-oriented.
Addressing a gathering at Ramlila Maidan after taking oath for the third time, he vowed to continue working for the fast-paced progress of the national capital, and defended the populist schemes of his government, which struck a cord with the voters, saying he can't charge people for basic amenities.
The new politics is "of schools, hospitals, 24-hour and cheap power supply, water, roads, women's security, corruption-free Delhi and is being discussed all over the country, he said, adding that initiatives like mohalla clinics are being replicated across the country and abroad.
Responding to his critics over freebies, the chief minister said, "They say Kejriwal is making everything free, but I want to say that everything precious in the world is free. The love that a mother has for her child is precious and priceless, the fact that a father stays hungry to afford a good future for his child is priceless. Shravan Kumar served his parents with all his might. Kejriwal is your Shravan Kumar."
"I had invited the prime minister for the oath-taking ceremony today, but I think he could not make it because he might have been busy. I want the PM to bless us so that we can work for the development and progress of Delhi."
Lauding the people of Delhi for "changing" the politics of the country, Kejriwal asserted that it is everybody's dream to have a developed Delhi and India which can be appreciated all around the world. "This would be possible only through new politics which has been started by you all."
Asserting that in the last five years he has worked for all and there was no step-motherly treatment towards anyone, Kejriwal told the crowd at the Ramlila Maidan, "Your son has taken oath for the third time as Delhi chief minister. This is not my victory but yours."
"In the last five years, we tried to fast pace Delhi's development and in the next five years, we will continue to do the same."
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