Kejriwal interview: Won't spare Cong in graft cases; can contest LS polls

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday hit out at the Congress that the Aam Aadmi Party had not asked for support, rather ‘they imposed it on us’.

In an interview with CNN IBN, Kejriwal defended his government strongly and blamed the Delhi police for the incident regarding Law Minister Somnath Bharti.

He said the Congress will not be spared inspite of their support and stated that files of Commonwealth Games and Delhi Jal board are being studied and action will be taken in a few days.

On being asked whether he would contest the Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal said, “I do not want to contest LS election but my party members are insistent.”

Transcript of the interview…

On the Somnath Bharti incident

We have halted the VIP culture, halved power and water rates. What have the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan done in 20 days? No other government since Independence has done so much for the people in just 20 days.

I don't agree that the Somnath Bharti incident has been an embarrassment. We have ended the VIP culture in Delhi. We made additional night shelters for the poor. We have started the anti-corruption helpline. We are impartial and are not against anybody.

Somnath Bharti did not go there to raid. He went there to find out what was happening. Police did not help him. He was just doing his job on that cold night.

In fact, the Somnath Bharti incident is a creation of the media. The police botched up the investigation.

Kindly …

On Delhi police

Police should come under the Delhi government. They have not done their job. There are serious allegations against them. Do you expect us to defend them?

Instead of punishing the police, who are not doing their job, these people are defending them

On anarchy being created by this

Anarchy has already been created.

People run the government. Not us. We are empowering them. It has instilled fear in the mind of the corrupt people.

Delhi Police is highly corrupt. They should be punished. They should come under the state government.

On running the government as an activist

We do both administration and activism. Why should a CM work from AC rooms? I am accessible to all. Is it wrong?

We have to clear the files and be on the road also. I am completely accessible to everybody.

Kindly …

On Kiran Bedi saying Kejriwal is a man in hurry

We are running the most transparency government. Because of that these people are attacking us. I am a man in a hurry. We have to work both from office and roadside. I am impatient.

On water

I defend free water up to 700 litres per day and 50 per cent power bill subsidy.

There are 19 lakh metres in Delhi. Water is not reaching the poor but lakhs have benefitted

On being obsessed with media

AAP won not because of media, despite the media. During the Anna movement media was with us.

On Kiran Bedi

Kiran Bedi is now campaigning for Modi, she has joined Modi's bandwagon. See all her recent tweets and it is evident…but everyone is anyway free to do whatever.

 Kindly …

On the observation that AAP government won’t act against Congress

We are studying CWG files and all the Delhi Jal Board files. We have set up an anti-corruption branch. In a few days we will start acting against the previous government. We won’t spare the Congress.

We have not asked for support from them, it was imposed onto us.

On Vinod Binny’s allegation

If he wants to leave AAP he can go today. He wanted to be an MP. He is a greedy person.

On AAP contesting in 400 Lok Sabha seats

We are not going to win. People are going to win. The wave of AAP will rescue the country.

We are not arrogant…we will not win…janta will win. Our plan is to empower the people.

On becoming the prime minister

I do not want to contest LS election but my party members are insistent.

I want to remain a common man, want to spend time with my family. If party decides, I may have to contest in the LS polls.