Politics is the soul of democracy: Kejriwal
Noida, Mar 6 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that politics wasn't a dirty game but the soul of a democracy.
"Democracy is not about being ruled by political parties but about the empowerment of people", Kejriwal said while speaking to students and faculty of Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) at the 25th year celebrations here today.
The activist-turned-politician asked his audience of several hundred students and faculty of engineering and management Institutes located in Greater Noida, "If our politicians are tradable, how independent are we?"
He exhorted youth to take on the responsibility of cleansing politics of what they saw as its ills.
Urging young students to opt for a participative democracy, Kejriwal said that "people should decide how and where their money should be utilized".
Stressing that every citizen needs to participate in order to change the system, Kejriwal said that his party is committed to inducting corruption-free citizens as members post an extensive background screening.
Dr Harivansh Chaturvedi, Director of BIMTECH welcomed Arvind Kejriwal to the silver jubilee celebrations of BIMTECH.
Magsaysay Award winner Kejriwal talked about his initial days as an Income Tax Officer and how he inspired himself to begin his fight against corruption.
Responding to a question on reservations Kejriwal favoured reservations to root out 'social atrocities' but wanted 'creamy layer' to be kept out of its purview. Reservations should be only for backward castes who truly deserve it.
Kejriwal said that Aam Adami Party stood for truth and transparency and strongly believed that truth was their only weapon to fight corruption.
Urging youth of today to participate in nation building and freeing our society from menace of corruption, he said that now is their time to exercise their 'dharma' by committing to nation building.
Kejriwal rued that despite the Prevention of Corruption Act, India has not been root out corruption. He said that the government-proposed Jan Lokpal Bill contained several flaws that needed to be plugged.
He said that Aam Aadmi Party would bring governance that is in keeping with the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, and is for the people and by the people.