The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday launched 'Delhi Dialogue', an initiative under which the party would encourage people’s collaboration in policy making and preparing the blueprint for making Delhi a world class city.
Launched at a time when assembly elections are just round the corner, the initiative would challenge the conventional practice of releasing manifestos days before polling dates, which, according to party leaders, was to evade discussions on feasibility and scrutiny on delivery.
Instead of telling people what the party can do for them, the AAP volunteers will hold discussions with all kinds of people to understand their needs and aspirations. And the points raised during these discussions will reflect in the party’s manifesto.
“We will hold dialogues with professionals, housewife, students, youth, women, villagers, industrialists, besides residents JJ cluster and unauthorised colonies. We will then prepare a 50-point programme, prepare a blue-print and address these issues. We want the people to tell us how they want their Delhi to be,” former Delhi Chief Minister and party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal told reporters at Constitution Club here.
Party leader Ashish Khetan said an honest government is the one which lets people have a say in governance, something Congress and BJP, the two parties who have ruled Delhi in the past, have failed to do.
“An accountable and responsive government seeks participation from the people tapping into their immense potential. Delhi is a city where we have a vast pool of those who have expertise in various fields as well as domain knowledge. We want to utilise their skills in government planning to bring the government and the governed there,” he said.
As a part of the initiative the party will hold a rally of the youth in the national Capital on Saturday and address their issues. A similar rally will be held on November 26, party's foundation day, where issues related to women's safety would be addressed. Water, power, health and education are some of the key sector party plans to work on.
Mr. Khetan also said that there will be a sync between discussion and delivery. “If the party forms the government, we will ensure that qwe fix deadlines for each and every project,” said the journalist-turned-politician.
The core team handling Delhi Dialogues comprise Mr. Khetan as well as Adarsh Shastri, who quit his high profile job to contest Lok Sabha ticket and banker-turned politician Meera Sanyal and Preeti Sharma Menon.
