Aap

BJP's 'preparation' for Punjab polls has begun: Kejriwal as ED raids AAP MP

As the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids against AAP leader Ashok Kumar Mittal, the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the BJP has started its "preparations" for the upcoming poll in Punjab by using central agencies. The ED on Wednesday conducted raids at the business and residential premises of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal in Punjab and Haryana as part of a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), officials said. In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "Modi ji has started preparations for the elections in Punjab. But, the people of Punjab will not tolerate this... they would give a befitting reply to the BJP." About 10 locations in Jalandhar and Gurugram are being covered under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). This includes the premises of the Phagwara-based Lovely Professional University (LPU) and two linked educational institutions named Tetr College of Business and Masters Union College of Business located in .

ED raids at business entities linked to AAP MP Ashok Mittal in Punjab

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted raids at business entities linked to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal in Punjab as part of a FEMA probe, offiicials said. Mittal, a 61-year-old businessman and educationist who heads the Lovely Group including an university by this name, was recently made the deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha. Officials said the searches are being conducted at multiple business entities linked to Mittal in Jalandhar and Phagwara apart from some other locations. The action is being undertaken under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), they said.

I go to Parliament to create impact, not ruckus, says Raghav Chadha

"I go to Parliament to create impact, not ruckus," said Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Saturday as he rejected allegations levelled against him by the Aam Aadmi Party, calling them "false" and part of a "coordinated campaign". In a video, Chadha dismissed claims that he did not join opposition walkouts, terming the charge a "blatant lie". He challenged his detractors to cite even a single instance where he failed to participate and said parliamentary proceedings are recorded through CCTV cameras. Refuting another allegation that he refused to sign a motion related to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chadha said no party leader had asked him, either formally or informally, to sign it. He added that several other MPs from his party had also not signed the motion. The MP said his focus in Parliament has been on raising public issues such as GST, income tax, air pollution in Delhi, water concerns in Punjab, public healthcare, education, railway passenger issues, menstrual health, ...

Raghav Chadha raised common man's issues, not Punjab matters: AAP MP Gupta

On Chadha's removal as Deputy Leader, Gupta clarified that such decisions are part of internal party processes and are subject to change

AAP accuses Chadha of indulging in 'soft PR', dodging key Parliament issues

The AAP on Friday hit back at party MP Raghav Chadha, accusing him of shying away from raising issues against the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in "soft PR". Delhi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that Chadha failed to toe the party's line on several matters in Parliament and did not join opposition walkouts on key issues. "We all are soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal, the Centre doesn't care about soft PR or talking about samosas at airport canteens when bigger issues are at stake," Bharadwaj said in a video posted on X. "Whenever the Opposition staged a walkout in Parliament, you (Chadha) did not participate. You did not raise issues concerning Punjab, from where you are elected, and you hid in a foreign country when former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested," he added. AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda also criticised Chadha, questioning whether someone who "fears" Prime Minister Narendra Modi can fight for the country. "In West Bengal

'Silenced, not defeated': Raghav Chadha slams AAP after RS post removal

AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Friday said he has been "silenced, not defeated", a day after being removed as the party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. He also alleged that his own party had sought to prevent him from speaking in Parliament. In a video posted on X, Chadha said, "Whenever I get a chance, I raise issues concerning the people in Parliament, including topics that are often overlooked. But is it an offence to talk about people's problems? Did I commit any crime?" Chadha also hit out at his party, alleging that it had informed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to stop him from speaking in Parliament. "The AAP has informed Parliament that I should not be given a chance to speak. I would like to tell them -- do not take my silence for defeat," Chadha said. "I raised several issues that benefited aam aadmi (common man). What harm did that cause the Aam Aadmi Party? Why does anyone want to stop me from speaking?" he added. The AAP on Thursday wrote to the Rajya Sabha secretariat se

AAP writes to RS secretariat to remove Raghav Chadha as deputy leader

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has written to the Rajya Sabha secretariat seeking the removal of Raghav Chadha as the party's deputy leader in the House, sources said on Thursday. Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal from Punjab is likely to be appointed as the new deputy leader, they added. According to sources, the letter also states that Chadha -- who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab -- should not be allotted time for speaking in the House from the AAP's quota. The AAP currently has 10 members in the Rajya Sabha, including seven from Punjab and three from Delhi.

BJP to go solo in Punjab; Shah promises to put an end to drug menace

Ahead of his rally in Punjab's Moga, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hit out at the AAP government, accusing it of drowning the state in corruption, drugs, and crime. He said Punjab wants 'badlav' (change). "Every person in Punjab wants change. Because the sacred land of Punjab, known for its soldiers, farmers and hardworking people, has been drowned in corruption, drugs, and crime by the 'Aap-da' government," Shah said in a post on X. Taking on the Bhagwant Mann government over the law and order situation, Shah said that under this "remotely-controlled" AAP dispensation, law and order and development are "missing" from Punjab. "Today, we are very eager to engage in dialogue with the sisters and brothers of Punjab at the BJP's 'Badlav' rally in Moga," said Shah. Shah will address the 'Badlav' rally in Moga on Saturday. The rally is being seen as the beginning of the BJP's poll campaign in Punjab, where assembly elections are due in early 2027. Elaborate arrangements ha

PM Modi hiding while India grapples with gas shortage: AAP's Sanjay Singh

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "hiding" when the country is grappling with gas shortage crisis due to the ongoing war in West Asia, while accusing him of pandering to Israel. During a discussion on the working of the ministry of rural development in the Upper House, Singh claimed people are standing in long queues across the country to get gas, while DMK member Tiruchi Siva demanded a discussion on the impact of US-Israel against Iran on India's fuel supply. "Where is the Prime Minister of the country hiding when the nation is grappling with the gas crisis? Please bring him out... The whole country is standing in queue for gas and the PM is hiding..." Singh said. He further said, "I want to ask you, in the war in the Middle East between US-Israel and Iran, why are you pandering to Israel as a result of which India has to suffer from gas shortage?" Taking a dig at the government's rural development steps, the AAP

Sisodia alleges 'dictatorship', says critics of govt being jailed

AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Tuesday emphasised the need to continue the "fight against dictatorship" and alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government has created a situation where anyone raising their voice against it is being falsely implicated and sent to jail. Sisodia further demanded that the prime minister clarify how the United States was portraying India before the world as "their colony". Speaking to reporters during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir after paying obeisance at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, the former Delhi deputy chief minister said he had come to meet the family of his friend and AAP leader Maharaj Malik in Jammu. "I am saddened that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a situation has been created in the country where whenever any voice is raised, that person is simply put in jail," he said. Sisodia, who visited the family of detained AAP MLA Mehraj Malik at his official residence to express his party's support, said that activists and opposition leaders,

Assembly rejects Kejriwal's plea to live-stream privileges panel hearing

The Delhi Assembly has written to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal declining his request for live streaming of the proceedings of the Privileges Committee which has summoned the AAP chief on Friday in a matter related to the 'Phaansi Ghar'. The letter noted the Privileges Committee chairperson's surprise over Kejriwal's "ignorance in this matter" even though he has been a member of the assembly for over 10 years and has attended several sittings of the Privilege Committee. "I am directed by the Chairperson to inform that the proceedings of the Committee of Privileges are confidential and the Rules of Procedure do not permit for their live streaming," the Delhi Assembly Secretariat's letter read. Further, there is no precedence of the sitting of the Committee of Privileges being telecast in the Parliament or other states, added the letter, which was made public on Friday. "The Chairperson has also expressed his surprise over your ignorance in this matter in spite of being a for

Congress and its AAP problem resurfaces after Kejriwal verdict timing row

Since its electoral debut in 2013, AAP has mostly contested in states that have seen BJP-Congress fights

Excise case: Delhi court discharges Kejriwal and Sisodia; CBI moves HC

Delhi court discharges Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the excise policy case, a major boost for AAP after poll losses; Opposition queries timing as CBI plans appeal

Delhi air quality improves to 'moderate' as mercury rises; AQI at 184

The capital recorded a gradual improvement in air quality, but 16 stations remained in the poor category despite the overall AQI slipping to 'moderate' levels

Arvind Kejriwal withdraws plea against ED summons in excise policy case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday permitted AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal to withdraw his petition challenging the summonses issued to him by the ED in connection with its probe into an excise policy-linked money laundering case. Senior counsel appearing for the former Delhi chief minister said he did not wish to pursue the matter further as he had already been acquitted in the criminal cases against him for failing to appear before the agency in pursuance of the summonses. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said the agency will file an appeal against the decision of the trial court. "Much water has flown.. I will not press the petition. I will take the constitutional pleas at an appropriate stage," Kejriwal's senior lawyer said. "Accordingly, the petition is dismissed as withdrawn", a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said. The bench clarified that all the legal pleas in the petition were kept open. On Ja

BJP govt withdraws cases filed by AAP against Centre, LG during its tenure

The Delhi government, led by the BJP, has withdrawn all cases filed by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration against the Union government, the Lieutenant Governor, and several senior bureaucrats, officials said on Monday. After assuming office, the BJP government moved courts seeking early hearings to withdraw multiple cases related to key administrative and policy issues, which were a bone of contention between the former AAP dispensation and the Centre, the L-G's office, as well as bureaucrats of the Delhi government. These cases filed by the former AAP government over a period of time included the appointment of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairman, control over service-related matters, implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, funding for the Delhi Jal Board, appointment of lawyers in the Delhi riot cases, and the constitution of a high-level committee on Yamuna river pollution. According to the officials, the

2 elections, 2 different results: Aam Aadmi Party's 'great disruption'

AAP's contrasting performances in Punjab and Goa highlight growing questions over its centralised leadership model and refusal to forge alliances in local elections

AAP leader shot dead in Jalandhar; Oppn slams Mann govt over law and order

Punjab Aam Aadmi Party leader Lucky Oberoi was shot dead on Friday outside a gurdwara in Jalandhar's Model Town by unidentified assailants, police said. The incident took place in the morning, a senior police official from Jalandhar said over the phone, adding that he was rushed to a hospital in an unconscious state and succumbed to the bullet injuries. Oberoi, 38, a Jalandhar-based AAP leader, had arrived at the gurdwara in his car. He was preparing to leave in his Mahindra Thar Roxx after paying obeisance. The assailants, who were on a two-wheeler, opened 8-10 shots at him, police said. He was rushed to a hospital in Jalandhar, but succumbed to injuries, ACP Jalandhar, Parminder Singh said. Police said the attackers fired several bullets at the vehicle and fled. After the incident, a police force reached the spot. The assailants may have carried out a recce of Oberoi's movements, police sources said. In the firing incident, the window panes of Oberoi's Thar vehicle and of anot

Akal Takht orders being followed in 328 sacred 'saroops' case: SGPC

The SGPC on Tuesday said it will neither cooperate with the police nor share any records in connection with the case of 328 sacred 'saroops' (scriptures) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in accordance with the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) clarified its stand after a meeting of officials held here under the leadership of SGPC secretary Partap Singh. He said action against employees found guilty in the matter has already been taken as per the inquiry report of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, whose orders are final for the Sikh institution. Singh said three employees --? Kanwaljit Singh, Baj Singh and Dalbir Singh --? were allegedly found directly involved in misusing offerings related to the sacred 'saroops' for personal gain and tampering with records. Strict action was taken against them, while several senior officers also faced administrative action, he said. He said that as per the SGPC rules, when devotees or gurdwara committees seek ...

AAP holds protest in Delhi Assembly premises over rising air pollution

The protest highlighted concerns over public health, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues, as Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous air quality