Leaders of various political parties on Saturday gave a mixed response to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal taking over as Delhi's seventh chief minister and to his promise of taking punitive action against the corrupt.
Congress general secretary in charge of Delhi Shakeel Ahmad said: "We hope he (Kejriwal) delivers. The promises that he has made is the hope through which the people have voted him into office. We in the Congress have given them support. If they fulfill all the promises they have made, the Congress will always continue its support. We will not be a part of the cabinet."
He also said that he did not lay much store by or emphasis on sting operations, as he felt that more often than not, events and situations were edited and presented in sting operations.
BJP leader Balbir Punj said that Kejriwal's speech and warning against the corrupt was nothing new, and had fallen flat in terms of impact.
"I don't see any change in this. All the formulae that Kejriwal is implementing are already tried and tested," Punj said.
Asked for his comment on Kejriwal taking a Delhi Metro ride to the venue of the oath-taking - Ram Lila Ground --, he said: "All the cabinet ministers along with him have used metro. It shouldn't be a one day drama like what Moily (Oil Minister Veerappa Moily) has done. With all this drama, there will be no solution to the serious problems in Delhi."
"This (AAP) party has started from a corruption movement. It is now a challenge to Kejriwal how swiftly he would act against the previous corrupt government of the Congress," Punj said.
He predicted a testing time for Kejriwal and his team on this front.
Another BJP leader, Jagdish Mukhi, claimed that the AAP has already begun on its wasteful expenditure path, and said: "He must answer why his leaders have reached Kaushambi in their own vehicles, and then, taken the metro from there. His vehicles have reached Barakhamba Road running empty."
He also questioned the reasoning behind Kejriwal and his ministers refusing security.
"It is Delhi Police's obligation to provide security. They have opted to give a three-tier security. This will increase the expenditure five times more," Mukhi said.
He also said that it would have been better had Kejriwal and his team taken their oath of office at the Lt. Governor's residence, as the expenses would have hardly been Rs. 20,000.
The decision to have the oath taking ceremony at Ramlila Maidan has cost the Delhi State exchecquer about Rs. 50 lakh, claimed Mukhi.
"What austerity are they talking about? The common man will ask answers for these questions. Kejriwal has taken the support of a party he has abused and accused of corruption. A big deal has happened between the two. The Congress has used Kejriwal to restrict Modi," Mukhi added.
He further claimed that the people of the country have accepted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as their prime ministerial aspirant.
"He will definitely win the general elections," he added.
Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi said: "This is a very weird and amazing day in the history of Indian politics after independence. It is a different kind of politics than the traditional politics in our nation. I pay my greetings to them (AAP). I hope they fulfill their promises."
Former Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said: "I have always told AAP leaders and leaders from my party to use decent language. We are supporting them (AAP) in the state assembly. We will support them for their good work in Delhi, but will also criticize their wrong policies as the party that is offering only outside support."
He also said that the latest decisions taken by the Congress high command at their meeting with 12 chief ministers of Congress-ruled states on the issue of corruption and inflation would be followed.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said: "Congratulations to Arvind Kejriwal on forming his government. However, he has done one mistake by taking the support of the Congress Party in spite of swearing on his children that he won't. He should not have taken support from the most corrupt party."
"Arvind should have considered Harshvardhan's appeal to consider the BJP's support. There is no hope of this government running for long. But, if they stand on their promises, then they will be successful," he added.
A cross section of people of the city also predicted that the AAP would deliver on their promises.
"Yes, there will be a change in Delhi. He (Kejriwal) talked very genuinely today. We believe that he will live upto the expectations of public. We are sure the Jan Lokpal will be passed," said one local resident.
Another resident of the city said: "This is a very good chance. It is great that we can We can complain against corruption."
Another said: "It is a historical day that we were a part of an oath taking ceremony. It will take time, but we will get relief from inflation.
