Page 26 - Aap Government

Delhi getting excess water, shortage due to 'mismanagement': Haryana Min

Haryana minister Abhe Singh Yadav on Thursday said the water scarcity in Delhi was solely due to "internal mismanagement" by the AAP dispensation. Yadav dismissed as "baseless" and "beyond facts" the Delhi government's allegation that the BJP-ruled state is not providing the national capital with the required share of water, as he asserted that Haryana is currently supplying 1,050 cusecs of water to Delhi, exceeding the mandated allocation of 719 cusecs. Yadav, the Minister of State for Irrigation and Water Resources, while speaking in Delhi, said Haryana does not politicise water issues, viewing water as a fundamental necessity. The minister underscored that ensuring water supply to the national capital is a collective responsibility, one which Haryana fulfils without shortfall. Yadav, according to an official statement, said that in response to AAP government's petition filed before the Supreme Court recently, the Haryana government submitted data on its water supply to Delhi ...

Delhi excise policy case: Court extends CM Kejriwal's custody till July 3

The ED urged the court to extend Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody, saying that it is essential for further investigation in the alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy

Delhi BJP takes out protest march over water crisis, slams AAP govt

Delhi BJP leaders and workers took out protest marches on Wednesday across the national capital over the water crisis in the city, and slammed the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva took part in the protest at Andrews Ganj, where he was accompanied by New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj. He attacked the AAP government, saying its free water scheme has proved to be a "sham". "People are craving for every drop of water. Women spent nights waiting for water tankers while children in many areas are not able to take a bath for days due to scarcity," he said. Several other BJP MPs, MLAs and office-bearers led the marches in different municipal wards across the country. Meanwhile, AAP leader and Delhi Water Minister Atishi said 28 lakh people in the city are not getting water due to the shortage, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to ensure the discharge of 100 Millions Gallons per Day (MGD) water from the BJP-ruled Haryana to the national ...

Delhi water crisis: Haryana refused to release additional water, says govt

Amid the worsening water crisis in Delhi, the AAP government on Tuesday claimed that Haryana has expressed its inability to provide additional water to the national capital on humanitarian grounds. The BJP slammed the AAP dispensation, saying the Haryana government on Tuesday released data that showed it provided more than 17 per cent excess water to Delhi and claimed Water Minister Atishi was blaming the neighbouring state in a bid to hide her own shortcomings in addressing the issue of water shortage in the city. A Delhi government statement said its delegation solicited the release of additional water supplies on humanitarian grounds in a meeting with the Principal Secretary (Water Resources) of Haryana in Chandigarh. "Haryana government expressed its inability to release additional water to Delhi on humanitarian grounds," it said. Atishi stressed the urgency of coordination to mitigate the current water emergency exacerbated by severe heat waves. The minister had last week ...

Swati Maliwal writes to INDIA bloc, seeks time to discuss assault case

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Tuesday sought time from INDIA bloc leaders to discuss the alleged assault against her by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aid Bibhav Kumar. In a letter to INDIA bloc leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar, the Aam Aadmi Party member complained she was subjected to "victim shaming and character assassination" for speaking up against the abuse. "Instead of finding support, I was confronted with incessant attacks on my character and victim shaming orchestrated by the leaders and volunteers of my own party," she wrote. "Over the past one month, I have encountered first-hand pain and isolation a survivor faces when she fights for justice. . . I would like to seek your time to discuss this pertinent issue," she added. Maliwal posted the letters addressed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and national president Sharad Pawar on X. "I have worked on the ground for the last 18 years and have heard 1.7 lakh cases in the Women's Commission in 9 years. Withou

Atishi urges Haryana government to urgently release water in Yamuna river

Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Monday visited the Wazirabad barrage and appealed to the Haryana government to release water in the Yamuna river. Atishi said the Wazirabad barrage gets water from Haryana which goes to the water treatment plants of Chandrawal, Okhla and Wazirabad. "If no water is received, how will the water treatment plants work? We appeal to Haryana that the people in Delhi are worried and they should release water in Yamuna river, she added.

SC, EC need to take drastic decision on EVM irregularities, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday joined the political slugfest over the electronic voting machines (EVMs), saying the Supreme Court and the Election Commission need to take a drastic decision on the issue. AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that his party has been raising the incidents of irregularities related to the EVMs for long but were mocked by the BJP. Singh alleged that there were 80 Lok Sabha seats won by the BJP in the recent polls and claimed "if proper counting of votes on these seats happened, the current BJP government will collapse". These 80 seats are in Maharashtra, UP, Bihar and other states, he said. Citing the controversy related to EVM in North West Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, Singh said "The Supreme Court and the Election Commission should now take a strict decision over the EVM issue." A fresh political slugfest has erupted over EVM tampering claims with the Congress and other opposition leaders citing a media report that alleged that a relative of the Shi

Water crisis in Delhi sponsored by BJP, says AAP leader Sanjay Singh

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Monday alleged that the water crisis in Delhi has been "deliberately created" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to keep the people of the national capital thirsty. Addressing a press conference here, Singh accused the saffron party of hatching a conspiracy against the residents of the national capital. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP on the allegations. "We believe 'pyase ko paani pilane se zyada punya ka kaam nahi hota' and there is no bigger sin than stopping water," said Singh. "For the last several days, there has been a water crisis in Delhi sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party and when I am saying that it is a water crisis sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party, I want to tell you that the BJP people want that the people of Delhi do not get water and for this, the BJP people are trying their best to put Delhi in a water crisis by whatever means, whatever conspiracies, whatever methods they can," he alleged. The AAP leader

Delhi water crisis: AAP MLAs write to Jal Shakti Min, urge intervention

The AAP MLAs have written a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil urging his intervention to solve the water crisis faced by the national capital amid the prevailing intense heatwave. Calling the situation "very critical", AAP's chief whip in Delhi Assembly Dilip Pandey on Saturday said the Yamuna water issue was an inter-state issue that required coordination of the Jal Shakti Ministry. Pandey said that in the letter from the AAP MLAs, time has been sought to meet the minister for a discussion on the matter. The AAP leader also said that instead of indulging in politics, all parties should work for a solution to resolve the water crisis and provide respite to the people of Delhi. "The entire matter is related to intervene state coordination and without Centre's intervention no solution will come out," Pandey told a press conference. The ruling AAP has accused the BJP ruled Haryana of stopping Delhi's share of Yamuna Water. Delhi's Water Minister Atishi has claimed that wa

Swati Maliwal assault case: Court extends Bibhav Kumar's judicial custody

A court here on Saturday extended till June 22 the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar. Kumar is accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on May 13 at the chief minister's official residence. Kumar was produced through video conferencing before the duty metropolitan magistrate, who extended the custody and directed the Delhi Police to produce him on June 22. Earlier on Friday, the court had extended Kumar's custody by one day after noting that the investigating officer (IO) was not present. Kumar was arrested on May 18. He was sent to police custody for five days the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest. On May 24, he was sent to four days judicial custody, following which he was again remanded in police custody for three days. An FIR was registered against Kumar on May 16 under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to ..

Excise scam: Delhi HC seeks ED stand on Chanpreet Singh's bail plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the bail plea by AAP volunteer Chanpreet Singh Rayat in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A vacation bench of Justice Amit Sharma issued a notice to the ED on Rayat's plea seeking regular bail and asked the agency to file a status report. The matter would be heard next on July 2. The ED had arrested Rayat, who allegedly managed cash payments for the AAP's 2022 Goa election campaign, on April 12. It has alleged that the 'South Group' comprising BRS leader K Kavitha, TDP's Ongole MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy and his son Raghav Magunta, businessman Sarath Chandra Reddy and others paid Rs 100 crore bribe to the AAP for obtaining a prime position in the Delhi liquor market as part of the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. Out of these alleged kickbacks, the ED has claimed, Rs 45 crore was used by the AAP to fund its Goa election campaign. The excise polic

AAP leaders review LS poll results, pledge to work harder for next election

Senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders discussed the results of the Lok Sabha elections and pledged that they would work harder for the next general elections, a party leader said on Thursday. AAP fought at 22 Lok Sabha seats and managed to win just three in Punjab. Despite an alliance with the Congress in Delhi, it lost all the four seats it contested at the hands of the BJP. "AAP definitely got fewer seats than expected, but the game is not over yet. We will come with new energy in the next election," AAP general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said. He said that the decision of the people of Delhi was a top priority for the party. We acknowledged that "there must have been some shortcomings in our hard work" and pledged to work harder to win next time. Pathak said Assembly elections in Haryana and Delhi and by-elections in Punjab were the next goals of the party. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that the top party leaders, including national convener and Delhi Chief Minist

Delhi will not witness flooding this time, says Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi's Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday asserted the city would not get flooded this time because the Yamuna river will get a clear channel for its flow. Inspecting the ITO Barrage to take stock of the work to desilt the river, he said the Barrage is under the Haryana government's jurisdiction, and a flood happened in Delhi last year "due to blocking of its gates". "Pilot cuts have been made at the places of obstruction. As soon as water flows (with force) through the Yamuna, it will take away the obstructions. The Yamuna will get a clear channel. As the irrigation and flood control minister, I can say there won't be a flood this time," Bharadwaj asserted. Delhi battled one of its worst flood-like situations in several pockets last year because of heavy rain, with more than 25,000 people evacuated from the inundated areas.

'Never take us for granted': SC warns Delhi govt on water scarcity plea

AAP-led Delhi government had filed a plea seeking direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to mitigate water crisis in the national capital

Money laundering case: SC adjourns AAP MLA's arrest plea hearing to June 18

The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to June 18 the hearing on Punjab AAP MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra's plea challenging his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering probe linked to a bank fraud case. A vacation bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih adjourned the matter after noting that the AAP MLA had not filed a rejoinder in the case. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, submitted that the matter is about Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and sufficiency of grounds. He said the issues raised in this case are similar to that of the Arvind Kejriwal matter where judgment is already reserved. Senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary, appearing for the Punjab AAP MLA, contended that the issues are not similar and the reason for being remanded is primarily non-appearance. The apex court then sought to know whether pleadings in the matter were complete. On being informed that a ..

Swati Maliwal assault case: Police adds fresh section against Bibhav Kumar

The Delhi Police has added the IPC section for "disappearing evidence and giving false information" against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in AAP MP Swati Maliwal's assault case, an official said on Monday. Kumar is accused of assaulting Maliwal at the chief minister's official residence on May 13. The official said Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was added in the case. Section 201 carries a provision for imprisonment of one-sixth of the punishment awarded for the biggest offence in the crime, he added. The FIR against Kumar was registered on May 16 under provisions of the IPC such as those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide. Maliwal, a former chief of the Delhi Commission for Women, alleged that Kumar attacked her with full force, slapped and kicked her

AAP accuses Haryana's govt of negative politics, stopping its water supply

AAP on Monday again accused the BJP government in Haryana of negative politics and stopping water supply in the Yamuna, leading to a severe shortage in the national capital. Priyanka Kakkar, the AAP's chief national spokesperson, claimed during a press conference that 137 cusecs released by Himachal Pradesh following a Supreme Court order had yet to reach Delhi. The BJP government in Haryana has not only stopped Delhi's water from Himachal Pradesh but also reduced the national capital's share of 1,050 cusecs, according to an agreement between the two states, by 200 cusecs, she claimed. Kakkar said the Delhi government will put all these issues before the Supreme Court, which will hear the matter on Monday. The apex court on June 6 directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it for Delhi and asked Haryana to facilitate the flow of this water so that it reaches the national capital. The Delhi government has during the past fortnight

AAP govt seeks SC approval to process DERC pro-tem members' appointment

The AAP government in Delhi is likely to approach the Supreme Court for its permission to process the file for appointment of pro-tem members to the city's power regulator DERC, official sources said on Saturday. The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is a three-member body, that includes a chairperson. The posts of two members are lying vacant since last year. A committee formed by the Supreme Court has shortlisted the pro-tem members but their appointments were delayed as the Model Code of Conduct was in place for the Lok Sabha polls and because of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in March, they said. The file for the appointment of pro-tem members is required to be sent by the chief minister for approval of the Delhi Lt Governor. As Kejriwal is in jail, file is pending, and the Delhi government wants to seek the court's permission so that the power minister forwards it directly for the Lt Governor's approval, the sources said. The Supreme Court in

AAP leaders take feedback from Delhi councillors after LS poll defeat

AAP leaders on Saturday took feedback from party councillors in Delhi on the Lok Sabha elections and resolved to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level. AAP failed to win a single seat in Delhi in the Lok Sabha elections. As part of a seat-share arrangement with its INDIA bloc ally Congress, AAP contested four seats while the grand old party fielded candidates from three. It was decided to further strengthen the organisation, said Durgesh Pathak, senior AAP leader and the party's Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in-charge. "AAP will continue to fight for the Constitution and democracy alongside the people of Delhi," he said, alleging that the Narendra Modi-led government is continuously doing injustice to Delhi. The meeting reviewed the results of the elections and decided on the party's future strategy. Sandeep Pathak, AAP's national general secretary (organisation), its Delhi unit convenor Gopal Rai, and other senior leaders attended the meeting. "The senior le

AAP to go solo in Delhi Assembly polls, no tie-up with Cong yet: Gopal Rai

Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi state convener Gopal Rai on Thursday said his party's alliance with the Congress was only for the Lok Sabha elections and hinted that the ruling party in the city will go solo in next year's Assembly polls here. After a meeting of party MLAs and senior leaders at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here, Rai told PTI that the party gave full support to the INDIA bloc in the Lok Sabha polls. "The INDIA bloc was only for contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Several parties fought elections together and AAP was also a part of it. As of now, there is no alliance for the Delhi Assembly polls," he told PTI. The AAP-Congress combine drew a blank in the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, with BJP effecting a clean sweep on all seven parliamentary seats for a record third time.