Page 48 - Aap Government

Assembly session on Oct 20-21: Punjab Guv says bound to be illegal

Days after the Bhagwant Mann government called a two-day sitting of the Punjab Assembly, the Governor's Secretariat said that this session -- being projected as an extension of the Budget session -- is "bound to be illegal" and any business conducted during it "unlawful". This is the second time this year that a row between the AAP government and the Raj Nivas has erupted over the summoning of an Assembly sitting. The Raj Nivas reminded the Assembly secretary on Thursday that the governor had a few months ago termed a similar special sitting in June of the budget session as "patently illegal". Punjab officials had earlier said the October 20-21 session would be an extension of the fourth session -- the budget session in March. The session is widely expected to discuss the recent Supreme Court directive over the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal in Punjab, a project which the state is reluctant to complete, claiming that it has no water to spare for neighbouring Haryana.

Stubble burning: Delhi govt launches drive to spray bio-decomposer

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday launched a drive for spraying bio-decomposer in paddy fields in the capital to prevent stubble burning. Since 2020, the Delhi government has been using Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial solution that decomposes paddy residue in 15-20 days, to prevent stubble burning in the capital. Farm fires are a major reason behind a spike in air pollution in Delhi-NCR in October-November. The government sprayed the bio-decomposer over 4,400 acres of paddy fields last year, Rai said, adding that 5,000 acres of land will be covered this season. The minister said stubble burning is rampant in Punjab, but he hoped that the number of farm fires would come down due to the steps taken by the AAP government in the agrarian state. According to the Union environment ministry, the maximum share of farm fires in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution stood at 34 per cent on November 3 last year and 48 per cent on November 7, 2021.

Sanjay Singh moves Delhi HC against arrest in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court on Friday agreed to list during the day a plea by AAP leader Sanjay Singh against his arrest in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy. The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing by a lawyer for the Rajya Sabha MP before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula. Singh's lawyer said proper grounds of arrest were not provided to him. Alright, the court said. On October 10, a trial court had remanded Singh, arrested earlier this month, to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till October 13. The ED's money laundering case stems from the CBI FIR. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 and undue favours were extended to licence holders. The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.

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BJP supporters protest near AAP office, demand CM Kejriwal's resignation

Leaders and workers of some Delhi BJP frontal organisations Thursday staged a demonstration near the Aam Aadmi Party office here, demanding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over alleged corruption in his government. Raising slogans and carrying placards, the protesters were moving towards the AAP office on the DDU Marg, but were stopped by the police at a barricade at some distance. "We have been running an awareness campaign against the corrupt Kejriwal government that has looted Delhi during its nine-year in office. The BJP will not relent till Kejriwal resigns from the post of chief minister," Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said. The BJP has been protesting against the Kejriwal government levelling against it allegations of corruption including of "liquor scam", a case in which former Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and party MP Sanjay Singh are currently in jail.

Madhya Pradesh needs 'new engine' and not 'double-engine': Punjab CM Mann

Mann said the people of Madhya Pradesh are left with just 37 days to elect a new government. This chance (election) comes once in five years and that, too, for nine hours (voting duration)

Amanatullah acquired huge cash from illegal recruitment in Waqf Board: ED

A day after conducting raids against Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan, the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday alleged he acquired "huge proceeds of crime" in the form of cash from illegal recruitment in the Delhi Waqf Board and invested it in purchasing immovable assets in the name of his associates. The federal agency had on Tuesday raided 13 locations in the national capital linked to the legislator and persons associated with him. "The searches were conducted in the case related to illegal recruitment of staff in Delhi Waqf Board and illegal personal gains by way of unfairly leasing out of Waqf Board properties during the chairmanship of the Board by Amantullah Khan during 2018-2022," the agency claimed in a statement. It said a CBI FIR and three Delhi Police complaints formed the basis of its action against the Aam Aadmi Party MLA. Amanatullah Khan, the ED said, "acquired huge proceeds of crime out of the said criminal activities in cash and this cash amount was invested

AAP blames non-payment of wages to bus marshals, volunteers on GNCTD Act

The govt had even written to the Finance Secretary on the issue and the Revenue Minister had issued an order for an immediate disbursement of wages to the marshals and volunteers

Delhi L-G forms committee to streamline recruitment in govt-aided schools

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday constituted a four-member committee to suggest measures to streamline the process of recruitment in government-aided schools. The move comes days after Saxena ordered the termination of seven teachers of the Delhi Tamil Education Association appointed allegedly on forged documents in 2022. The LG also approved a CBI inquiry into the matter. Saxena has asked for scrutiny of the records of recruitment in government-aided schools over the last 10 years and constituted a committee to study the appointment process in these schools. The committee formed by the LG to study the recruitment process and suggest measures to streamline it is headed by PK Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of the general administration department. It comprises R Menaka, Special Secretary of Finance, and Ashok Kumar, Secretary of Education, as members, while Director of Education Himanshu Gupta is the convener.

ED raids AAP's Delhi MLA Amanatullah Khan in money-laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided the premises of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in Delhi as part of a money-laundering investigation against him and some others, official sources said. The 49-year-old legislator represents the Okhla constituency in the Delhi Assembly. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches are being undertaken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The federal agency has taken cognisance of a Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau FIR and a Central Bureau of Investigation FIR against the legislator, related to alleged corruption linked to illegal appointments in the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan is the Delhi Waqf Board chairman.

AAP holds protest against action of central agencies against its leaders

Aam Aadmi Party workers held a demonstration on the DDU Marg here on Tuesday to protest the action of central agencies against its leaders. The protest took place hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan's residence here as part of a money-laundering investigation against him and some others. Several protesters were detained by the police as they tried to march from the AAP office to the BJP headquarters on DDU Marg. Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh are currently in jail in a money-laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy. AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, have strongly denied the allegations and claimed that the cases registered by probe agencies are false.

Govt bungalow allocation row: AAP leader Raghav Chadha moves Delhi HC

AAP MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court's decision to vacate an interim order which stopped the Rajya Sabha secretariat from dispossessing him from the government bungalow allotted to him. The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula which agreed to list it on Wednesday. Chadha's counsel submitted that the Member of Parliament has been served with a notice and eviction proceedings are going on. She said earlier there was a stay from the trial court but now it has been removed. The trial court in an October 5 order has said that Chadha cannot claim that he has an absolute right to continue to occupy the government bungalow during his entire tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP even after the cancellation of allotment. The trial court had made the observation while vacating an interim order passed on April 18 that had directed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat not to ...

AAP ready to contest Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh polls: Delhi CM Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party is ready to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan with full strength and the names of candidates will be declared soon, its national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Monday. The Election Commission has announced that assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on different days beginning November 7 and the votes will be counted on December 3. Asked about the AAP's preparation for the polls, Kejriwal said, "We are prepared to contest the elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh with full strength." When asked whether his party will contest the elections as part of the INDIA bloc, he said that "whatever happens will be apprised". Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are currently ruled by the Congress, which like the AAP is a partner in the opposition INDIA alliance.

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Punjab CM Mann dares Opposition parties for a 'live debate on all issues'

He further said, "You can bring a paper with you but I will speak by word of mouth. November 1 'Punjab Day' will be a good day, you will also get time for preparation. I am fully prepared"

Delhi Govt to introduce policy for compensation to victims of electrocution

The policy aims to control accidents caused by electricity and provide financial assistance to the victims in Delhi

AAP holds protests across Punjab against Sanjay Singh's arrest by ED

The AAP held protests across Punjab on Friday against the arrest of its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in connection with alleged irregularities in implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. Ministers in the Punjab government, AAP MLAs and leaders from the state and the district level took part in the protests, the party said in a statement. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday took into custody Singh -- the second high-profile AAP leader arrested after Manish Sisodia -- in the case related to alleged irregularities in implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy. The AAP termed Singh's arrest as a "dictatorial step" of the Narendra Modi government, the statement said. In Jalandhar's Nakodar, AAP MP Shushil Kumar Rinku, Punjab Minister Balkar Singh, MLA Raman Arora, and other leaders held protests with a large number of party workers. Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak led the protest in Pathankot where AAP workers set fire to an effigy of Modi, the statement ...

Flood of illegal constructions in Delhi; alleges BJP chief Virendra

"As AAP has formed government in MCD in last 8 months, there had been a flood of illegal construction and encroachment in the roads' he added

Entire liquor scam false, not even a penny changed hands: CM Kejriwal

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Rouse Avenue Court sent Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh to remand till October 10, 2023, in connection with the now scrapped Delhi excise policy or liquor scam case

Corruption now common in AAP: BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi lashes out

Further taking a swipe at the AAP, Trivedi said, the Aam Aadmi Party which came with an agenda of establishing morals in the field of politics now seems to be the party lacking these morals the most