Soon after being sworn-in as the Capital’s eighth Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, issued a word of caution to the media in relation to questions pertaining to deadlines about promises made by him and his party.
“I request the media to ask me less questions,” Mr. Kejriwal said. “Whenever they spot me, they ask the same question: by when will you do this, by when will you do that. I ask, were other parties able to fulfil anything they promised over the last 65 years?”
He insisted that he and his party will deliver on their promises “as soon as possible” and assured the sea of humanity he overlooked of hard work “across the 24 hours of each day” they were in office dedicated to “solving [the people’s] problems”.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia later held a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, where, ironically enough, entry for the media was banned despite a press conference having been announced by representatives of the newly-formed Government well in advance. “We will keep the media informed about deadlines and the status of government projects as and when we are required to do so,” he said.
Regular media briefings
PTI adds:
The government has decided to hold regular briefings with media to disseminate information on its new plans, projects and policies. The briefings will take place on all working days at 4 p.m. starting February 17. “To keep the media informed of new policies, plan, projects, programmes, activities and other developments of various departments of government, it has been decided that there will be interaction with the media on all working days at 4 p.m. starting from February 17,” it said. “The interaction will be organised at the media centre in the Delhi Secretariat, depending on the issue to be discussed either by the Minister concerned or the Principal Secretary/ Secretary, along with the Head of the Department, Media Advisor and other officers concerned will be available in the media centre for interaction,” the circular added.
