Delhi Cabinet most honest in the country: Kejriwal

New Delhi, Sep 22: Claiming his cabinet to be "most honest" in the country, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that honest ministers have chosen honest secretaries and head of departments and not even a single penny is being misused.

"Delhi has a small cabinet of seven ministers including Chief Minister. Entire cabinet is dead honest, not even a single penny is misused. This is the most honest cabinet in the country," Kejriwal said while addressing a delegation of young parliamentarians and policy leaders from 12 Asia-Pacific nations and the United States.

"If the top (ministers) is honest then we also look for honest officers so our second level which includes secretaries, principal secretaries and head of department are also honest.

We choose such people who are known for their efficiency and integrity. The message right up to the bottom is that now corruption will not be tolerated," he said.

The visit of the delegation was organized by the US based East West Center at Delhi Secretariat. During the meeting he also emphasised that due to honest government many things have started improving.

"Recently we set up a dispensary for common people at one place. Earlier to set-up a similar health clinic government used to spend about Rs 5 crore and now we were able to set-up similar clinic in Rs 20 lakh. It is working so well that we have decided to set up 1000 more such clinics all over Delhi," the chief minister said.

Kejriwal listed education, health and eradication of corruption as the main priorities of his government. Members of visiting delegate asked him about AAP’s historic victory in the assembly election, replying to which Kejriwal said, "people were really fed up by present politics in the country as there is so much criminality and corruption, so people wanted a change and there was no option till now.

AAP provided that option and people also saw that hope in us and gave largest mandate ever."

He also stressed that for the first time people voted for AAP breaking all the barrier of cast and religion.

PTI