By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 15 Feb 2015: Minutes after taking oath as chief minister of Delhi in the presence of over 50 thousand people here at Ramlila Maidan on Saturday, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal addressed the massive gathering of his supporters, party workers and common people from different religions. He began his speech by raising the trademark slogans of the Anna Hazare movement which he was part of two years ago.
The slogans like Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Inquilab Zindabad and Vande Mataram were raised so many times by social activist Anna Hazare at the very ground two years ago that they became trademark of his anti-corruption movement. Soon after he and his six-member cabinet ministers were administered oath on Saturday, Kejriwal came up to the podium and began his speech with the same three slogans. He ended his speech, 10 minutes later, on the very slogans.
Some religious minorities including Muslims have long contested the slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram citing their faith – even though the last one is part of the national song. So many people were surprised when Kejriwal raised those slogans as chief minister.
“It seems he has deliberately chosen the most popular slogans among people with right and left leaning. While Inquilab Zindabad is popular among left groups Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram are popular among Hindu right,” says social activist Inamur Rahman adding that “he wants to attract both sections.”
“He should focus on common issues, rather than symbolic things,” said Rahman.
Muslims have been of the view that they cannot recite Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram as they clash with their faith.
In his speech, Kejriwal admitted he got support of people from all religions.
“People from all religions – Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and others have voted for us. The poor have voted us in large number. The rich have also voted us. The historic victory – 67 out of 70 seats – is not the result of hard work of one man. It is a Charisma of God. He wants to do something big. His intention is great. For that purpose, he has chosen us a medium,” he said.
He also came down heavily on politics of hatred and division and warned those who want to disturb communal harmony in the city of Delhi.
“In the last few months, there were attempts to create communal tension in Delhi. Churches were attacked. We have not seen it in 35 years. Delhi people will not tolerate it. I want to tell those who do politics of hatred and division that Delhi people will not tolerate it. We want to make Delhi a city where every Hindu, every Muslim, every Christian and all feel safe and secure,” said Kejriwal
In the Delhi Assembly elections last week, his AAP party won 67 seats in the 70-seat house. BJP won three seats while Congress got zero, perhaps first time in the history of Delhi Assembly.
