Odd-even: CM warns volunteers against 'misbehaving'

New Delhi, Dec 30: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, Dec 30 warned volunteers, who will be deployed for the odd-even scheme, against "arguing or misbehaving" with people and to focus on "changing hearts" by resorting to polite tactics like handing over flowers to violators.

He also urged school students to convince their parents, relatives and friends to follow the odd-even scheme, that will come into force from January 1, and to encourage them to opt for carpooling, which the Chief Minister shall himself resort to.

"You will have to change the hearts of people. You don't have to issue challan or argue or misbehave with anyone. You will hold placards at red lights and on spotting a violator, you will give him a flower and urge him to go back home," Kejriwal said.

He was addressing volunteers, comprising Civil Defence men, NCC and NSS cadets, at Chhatrasal stadium during a briefing session to make them aware about their specific role.

Earlier, Kejriwal made students of Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyala at Civil Lines take pledge to fight pollution and convince their parents, relatives and friends to adhere to the odd-even scheme to be rolled out in two days.

Kejriwal said the scheme won't meet success merely by issuing challans and unless people of Delhi resolve that it's their own movement "we cannot implement it."

"Everyone in Delhi needs to understand that it's their own movement. They do not need to follow it because Kejriwal and his government is strict about it, but they need to follow it because it's a question of their life, their childrens' lives," he said.

The idea, Kejriwal said, was to persuade people to keep their cars off the roads by adopting methods that would "stir his conscience".

"If you see anyone violating the odd-even scheme, just roll down your car window and ask that person to go back home. If such a violator is interrupted like this at 10 red lights, then he will feel ashamed and I hope he will go back home," Kejriwal told students.

PTI