In the name of freedom fighters…: Delhi minister takes oath

Gopal Rai, one of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s cabinet member, made a departure from the tradition of taking oath in the name of God. He took oath in the name of the martyrs of India’s freedom struggle during the AAP government’s mega swearing-in ceremony at the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday (February 16).

Rai was the labour minister in the previous AAP government and also held the charge of general administration department. He was one of the six MLAs who took oath alongside Kejriwal on Sunday. The other five MLAs included Manish Sisodia, Kailash Gahlot, Rajendra Pal Gautam, Satyendra Jain and Imran Hussain.

Rajendra Pal Gautam, who was the social welfare minister in the previous Arvind Kejriwal dispensation, took oath in the name of Lord Buddha at the Ramlila Maidan where a joyous crowd kept shouting ‘Lage raho Kejriwal’ and ‘We love you Kejriwal’.

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Imran Hussain took oath of office in the name of Allah and later oath of secrecy in the name of God (Ishwar). Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and senior party leaders Manish Sisodia and Kailash Gahlot took oath in the name of God.

The mega swearing-in ceremony was held amid much fanfare at the Ramlila Maidan where Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal administered the oath of office and secrecy. AAP won 62 seats out of 70 in the Delhi assembly elections, while the BJP bagged eight seats and the Congress drew a blank for the second consecutive time.

(With inputs from agencies)

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