This Man Hopes to Pay Less 'Hafta' With Arvind Kejriwal Back in Delhi

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's first promise is a corruption-free Delhi in five years. Anil, a shopkeeper in one of Delhi's busiest markets would like to hold the new Chief Minister to his word.

Anil's makeshift shop is set up on the pavement, a clear encroachment, and he says he pays Rs 350 in monthly "hafta" or protection money to the police. "Everything happens with money. It's India, throw money and it's all done," he says.

Anil, who does not want to share his last name, says every now and then his shop is uprooted, only to spring up again once money has exchanged hands.

Another shopkeeper, who asks to remain anonymous, claims that bribe-taking stopped in the 49 days that Arvind Kejriwal was in power last year. Other locals say they hope that they will have to pay less "hafta" in the new Aam Aadmi Party regime. Also, that saying no to paying bribe will not boomerang on them.

In his address after he took oath on Saturday, Mr Kejriwal encouraged people to conduct sting operations against those who asked them for bribes. "If anyone asks you for a bribe, don't refuse. Use your phone to record his voice, give it to me," he had said.

The busy market has many policemen deployed, but they say there is very little encroachment here, seeming not to notice Anil's pavement shop and the others like it. "There are very few illegal shops, and the area comes under NDMC so we only follow orders if they conduct raids," says a cop.

Shopkeepers here allege that they expect fewer demands now that Mr Kejriwal is back. Is the police afraid, this reporter asked them. "Not just the police, everyone is scared," said a street vendor.

"Last time we had romanticism; now we have confidence that we will make Delhi the first corruption-free state," Mr Kejriwal has promised. His party has won a gigantic 67 of Delhi's 70 seats, handing him a complete majority in the state assembly.