Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her dispensation was all about honest governance, public welfare, and structural reforms, as she accused the previous government of civic neglect, on Saturday marking 100 days of her coming to power.
Speaking at a public programme at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Ms. Gupta emphasised that her administration had laid focus on policy formulation, rather than making "false promises."As she dwelt in elaboration about details of her governance, there was a lighter moment on Saturday at an event marking 100 days of the Rekha Gupta government when actor Anupam Kher, who was interviewing her, mentioned the infamous cough of the previous Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal.
“I can’t help but say this. I just saw you speak at length, and you did not cough even once,” said Kher, sparking spontaneous clapping by the audience and leaving CM Gupta in splits.He said he mentioned the cough, as over the years, Delhiites have grown accustomed to it – an oblique reference to Kejriwal’s habit of dotting his public statements with a cough to garner public sympathy.
“I am sorry I could not stop myself from bringing up this issue. Neither have you coughed nor has anyone in the 2,000 audience,” he said even as the audience, including Delhi Cabinet Ministers and BJP MPs from the city, continued to cheer.He said, “The Chief Minister’s remark was a hint at the possible use of “lies” and “cough” strategy by AAP leaders to cover up governance failures in the border state by the ruling AAP. Kher admitted that he was asking her questions on behalf of lakhs of Delhiites, and his questions were based on the feedback he got from a friend who lives in the city.
Talking to a news agency after the podcast-style interview with the Chief Minister, Kher said, “She had a flash of truthfulness in her eyes and listed a lot of works she has done in 100 days, including towards the health sector, pollution, cleanliness and women’s welfare.”He said he could sense a resolve in her statements to serve people in the coming days, and it was appreciable that she remembered all the work she had done so far.
Earlier during the event organised at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the Delhi Chief Minister listed her government’s 100-day achievements in the health sector, including the roll out of Ayushman Bharat Scheme under which 3 lakh eligible citizens have been registered for Rs 10 lakh health insurance.
In the education sector, she highlighted the Cabinet nod to a bill to regulate fees in private schools. “We will soon promulgate an ordinance to enforce it,” she said, underscoring her government’s effort to involve parents in fee hike decisions.In the transport sector, she highlighted the launch of 460 electric DEVI public transport buses and the drafting of an EV policy. On pollution, she said her government was focused on tackling pollution in the Yamuna and plans to install smog guns on high-rise buildings.
She also shared steps taken for the early roll out Mahila Samridhi Yojana of Rs 2,500 financial assistance to women, the opening of creches for women workers and steps for women's security.
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