CM’s Janata Darbar becomes a free-for-all, forcing him to leave

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s first “janata darbar” was disrupted following chaos and unruly scenes as thousands thronged the Delhi Secretariat, forcing him to leave the venue midway. The AAP leader apologized for the poor management of the event, where his entire cabinet was present, and assured a better show next time. “There could have been stampede had I not left the darbar. Better arrangement is needed next time,” Kejriwal said later on Saturday.

Opening up the gates of the sprawling secretariat to the aam aadmi was a promise made in AAP’s manifesto. The crowds, which had gathered for an audience with the chief minister to convey their grievances, went out of control with some people even breaking the barricades. The chief minister, who has resisted security cover, was taken to his office by the police in less than an hour.

However, three of his six ministers — Somnath Bharti, Rakhi Birla and Saurabh Bhardwaj — stayed back to hear the woes of the people and accept representations. “We will have another janata darbar in four or five days. It will be better organized and better managed,” Kejriwal said later, addressing the crowd from the roof of a single-storey building and urging the people to return home.

The AAP’s exercise came in for criticism from his political rivals, ally and Team Anna member Kiran Bedi. “For God’s sake, Arvind and Team, Secretariats are not run from rooftops! Please take time to listen/absorb! And then take considered decisions!” Bedi tweeted. Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said Kejriwal should think practically before executing public meetings like the janata darbar.

BJP’s Delhi unit president Vijay Goel alleged the janata darbar was called with an eye on the Lok Sabha election and not out of concern for people’s welfare. The AAP government had announced that there would be a regular janata darbar at which the chief minister will be present every Saturday so that people feel connected to the administration.

Many in the crowd, who had started queuing up from as early as 6 am so that they could talk to the chief minister, left disappointed. Their complaints ranged from water, power, contract jobs in government, unsolved cases, cases and MCD problems.