There will be zero tolerance for corruption in Goa once AAP comes to power: Arvind Kejriwal
In Delhi, I terminated the food minister within three hours of receiving a complaint of corruption against him and handed over the case to the CBI: Arvind Kejriwal
I don’t think such quick action has ever been taken against one’s own minister in 75 years of Indian politics: Arvind Kejriwal
All the public funds of Goa are going into the pockets of the leaders, AAP will spend every rupee on the people: Arvind Kejriwal
If someone messes up, it will not be tolerated, they will go straight to the jail and all the money will be recovered from them: Arvind Kejriwal
AAP will stop petty corruption; at present no work in Goa takes place without under the table fees: Arvind Kejriwal
AAP will start doorstep delivery of services in Goa like we did in Delhi; government will come to your home: Arvind Kejriwal
We’ll bring back the industries that left Goa and revive all the businesses that are under distress: Arvind Kejriwal
Within a month of formation of AAP government, everyone will see big radical changes in Goan governance: Arvind Kejriwal
Till now, I had announced five guarantees to Goa — 24×7 free electricity, employment, free pilgrimage, one thousand rupees to women: Arvind Kejriwal
NEW DELHI/GOA:
Pitching AAP’s brand of honesty and integrity in Goa, AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal announced his sixth guarantee today. AAP will give Goa the first ever corruption-free and staunchly honest government. He said that there will be zero tolerance for corruption in Goa once AAP comes to power. Shri Arvind Kejriwal talked about how he terminated the food minister of Delhi within three hours of receiving a complaint of corruption against him and handed over the case to the CBI. I don’t think such quick action has ever been taken against one’s own minister in 75 years of Indian politics, he said. Shri Arvind Kejriwal stated that all the public funds of Goa are going into the pockets of the leaders, AAP will spend every rupee on the people. He said that if someone messes up, it will not be tolerated, they will go straight to jail and all the money will be recovered from them. AAP will stop petty corruption; at present no work in Goa takes place without under the table fees. He announced that AAP will start doorstep delivery of services in Goa like we did in Delhi; the government will come to your home. He said that AAP will bring back the industries that left Goa and revive all the businesses that are under distress. He stated that within a month of the formation of the AAP government, everyone will see big radical changes in Goan governance.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “The concept of ‘guarantees’, started by the Aam Aadmi Party, is a first in Indian politics because of the constant failure and breach of promises by all other political parties. All parties would bring in lavish promises in their manifesto during the election season, and forget about them soon after coming to power. The Aam Aadmi Party does not indulge in these election gimmicks. We deliver on our word. This is the reason that we have introduced the term ‘guarantee’ to describe our promises to the public. Moreover, we go door-to-door and issue signed cards to people to ensure accountability – to let the public know that if we do not deliver these guarantees, you can vote us out, you can even sue us for it.”
He further said, “So far, the Aam Aadmi Party has given five guarantees to the state of Goa. First was that we will give free and 24-hour electricity to the people of Goa. Second, we will give jobs to unemployed youth, and provide unemployment allowance until jobs are ensured. Our third guarantee was to facilitate pilgrimage tours for the people of Goa to Velankanni, Shirdi, Ayodhya, Ajmer Sharif, and others. Fourth, we will give a thousand rupees to each woman aged 18 and above. And our fifth guarantee was in the interests of the taxi operators of Goa.”
Shri Arvind Kejriwal added, “Today, I have come to announce my sixth guarantee to the people of Goa. I guarantee that we will form the first corruption-free and dead honest government in Goa’s history. In the past 60 years, the Congress Party ruled for 27 years in which they did not leave a single stone unturned in looting the state. Forget being even close to corruption-free, corruption plagued each and every department in this government. After Congress, it was the BJP’s turn to plunder Goa’s treasury and carry forward the shameless corruption and misgovernance for another 15 years. Again, in the following 15 years, the MGP also did not spare any effort when it came to corruption. Till now, the people of Goa have been constantly looted by these incompetent and deeply corrupt governments. Goa is a state of abundance. It is a vast source of natural resources as well as excellent human resources. The people of Goa are honest and hardworking. Despite this, the reason behind Goa’s lack of progress is because all previous governments were hell bent on simply plundering its treasury and had no interest in actual development of the state.”
He continued, “So, we will give to Goa what it needs to thrive – the first honest government. We do not make shallow promises, but lead by example. We have established an honest government in the country’s capital and that is the reason behind its fast paced development. When I say ‘honest government’, it represents two main features: One, we will wipe out corruption on higher levels in the administration i.e. there will be zero tolerance for corrupt ministers, MLAs and the like. I will cite an incident in this regard – when we formed the government in Delhi, I received a voice recording within 3-4 months as my phone number was available to the public and I was directly accessible. When I played this voice message, it turned out to be a phone-call recording between my Food Minister and a ration dealer, recorded by the latter, in which the minister was demanding Rs. 5 lakh from the ration dealer. Within 3 hours of receiving this message, we removed the Food Minister from his post and handed the case over to the CBI. I doubt that such swift action has ever been taken against a sitting minister in one’s own government in the history of Indian politics over the past 70-75 years. This is the level of zero-tolerance to corruption that we will implement in Goa. There’s no shortage of money in Goa. A budget of 22 thousand crores means something for a population of just 15 lakh people, it is in fact a significant amount. But no one knows how this budget is being utilised or where the money is going. All of it is going into the pockets of power hungry politicians. But now, each and every penny will be spent for the welfare of the people. We will not let this money fill the treasuries of these corrupt leaders anymore and use it for the development of Goa. Be it an MLA from our own party, such antics will not be tolerated. All corrupt politicians and workers will immediately be sent to jail and all the money will be recovered.”
He further said, “Second, we will tackle petty corruption. A common man has to often pay up to get a certificate from the Panchayat, or for some work with the Revenue Department, or the Transport Department and so on. Money is needed for all such kinds of services. First a person is troubled, made to make pointless rounds of government offices, then after tiring from this futile activity they eventually fall back on a broker to get their work done. We will put an end to this system. We have done so in Delhi and ended all kinds of petty corruption. Public receives such services in the comfort of their homes for we have started doorstep delivery services. For this, we have issued a number, 1076, for Delhi. If one of you visits Delhi, you can try and test it for yourself. The operator on the line will ask you which Delhi Government service you wish to avail, ask you to keep the required documents ready and book an appointment for your doorstep service. Through this, one can get a new water or electricity connection, or get a ration card or a driving licence made. Even if you book an appointment for 11 PM at night after a long day at work, an officer from the Delhi Government will be available. The officer will come to your home, bring a photocopy machine, make copies of your documents, issue a receipt, and within a week after the visit you will receive your required document by post. You do not need to stand in long lines or avail the services of a broker as doorstep delivery of all such services is ensured by the AAP Government in Delhi. The same will be implemented in Goa.”
“Within one month of AAP forming the government you will start seeing radical changes in Goan governance. I am not saying that we will end corruption within 24 hours, that will be a hollow election promise. I got to know that the business community faces a lot of harassment in dealing with the government departments. They won’t need to face any problems once AAP takes over. We’ll bring back the industries that left Goa and revive all the businesses that are under distress,” Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal concluded.