“Keeping in mind the rising pollution in Delhi, we are slowly trying to shift to electric vehicles and the autorickshaws are a step towards that,” said the CM while addressing the crowd.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday launched a fleet of electric autorickshaws and said as many as 3,500 people will drive the vehicles. He added that of the 3,500, at least 500 are women.
“Keeping in mind the rising pollution in Delhi, we are slowly trying to shift to electric vehicles and the autorickshaws are a step towards that,” said the CM while addressing the crowd.
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“Among the 3,500 people who will ride the autorickshaws are 500 women and it is a matter of pride for us. I initially had concerns and wondered about the safety of our women but after coming here when I spoke to one woman auto driver, who has been driving the vehicle for the last 19 years on the streets on Delhi, she allayed my fears,” Kejriwal said.
Talking about the acceptance of electric vehicles among the people, the Chief Minister said, “Initially I used to think that people may not accept the shift to electric vehicles so easily. But I was surprised to see that within one year since the EV policy was launched, at least 10% of the vehicles that were sold in Delhi were electric vehicles.”
Meanwhile, while interacting with the mediapersons, when asked about Wednesday’s alleged attack by members of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha at his home, Kejriwal said, “Arvind Kejriwal is not important but the nation is. I can lay down my life for the country. But I also believe that hooliganism will not help in taking the country forward. If we can work together with love and care, only then can India develop.”
In a veiled attack at both Congress and BJP, Kejriwal, without naming any party, said, “We have wasted 75 years after India’s independence in doing dirty politics…if the world’s largest party, the one that holds power, will stoop down to hooliganism in the capital of the country then what message will we drive to the youths of the country? An average youth will only think that this is the right path but a wrong message is being sent.”