Despite chaos, 2582 grievances received: Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who today drew flak for chaotic "janata durbar" outside Delhi Secretariat, said 2,582 grievances have been registered at the public grievance hearning and the government has started working on their redressal.

"Despite all the chaos today, 2582 grievances registered. Govt has started working on their redressal (sic)," Kejriwal wrote on microblogging site Twitter this evening.

Earlier at a press conference, Kerjriwal rejected criticism of his 'janta durbar' and said though the exercise had turned chaotic due to "mismanagement", they have learnt their lesson and the next public hearing will be at a bigger venue with better arrangements.

The Delhi Chief Minister, who had to leave the venue of the public hearing midway as hundreds jostled with each other to register their grievances, said he had not expected the massive turnout which reflected the "faith" of the people in his government.

Kejriwal said he had left the venue to avoid a stampede- like situation. He said there was mismanagement and he has apologised to the people and collected complaint letters from them, adding he will soon devise a mechanism to resolve the situation.

He said the public hearing, which was to be held by each of the six ministers on week days and by the entire cabinet on Saturday outside the Delhi Secretariat building, has been suspended for the next three-four days.

"Next time, we will hold the public hearing at a stadium or at a bigger place and only after putting all the proper arrangements in place," Kejriwal told reporters. Kejriwal said 90 per cent of the crowd at today's hearing comprised contractual workers. "I am writing to every department asking them why contractual workers could not be made permanent," Kejriwal said.