Page 2 - Aap

Arvind Kejriwal refuses to appear before Delhi HC judge in excise case

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has written to Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, saying he will not appear in the excise case personally or through a lawyer before her, the party said on Monday. "My hope of getting justice from Justice Swarana Kanta has been broken. Therefore, I have decided to follow Mahatma Gandhi's path of Satyagraha," Kejriwal wrote in the letter. He further said he has made the decision by listening to the voice of his conscience. The former Delhi chief minister added that he will reserve the right to approach the Supreme Court to appeal against Justice Sharma's decision.

AAP to write to Rajya Sabha chairman for disqualification of defected MPs

AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Saturday said that the party will write to the Rajya Sabha chairman to seek the disqualification of seven of its MPs, who quit the party a day ago, from the Upper House. "Anti-defection law clearly states that any type of split or faction cannot happen in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. It does not carry any legal recognition, even if it's a two-thirds majority," Singh said. The AAP leader said that neither the anti-defection law nor the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution recognises any kind of split, breakaway faction, or group in the Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha, two-thirds majority notwithstanding. The seven MPs who have announced joining the BJP are completely "unconstitutional" and "illegal," he said. "I am writing to the vice president of India, and chairman of Rajya Sabha, to disqualify the seven MPs," Singh added. AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak on Friday announced that they are joining the BJP along with five other MPs of the ...

AAP no longer the same party, no one can work with Kejriwal: Swati Maliwal

Defected AAP MP Swati Maliwal on Saturday alleged that her former party had "strayed far" from its original principles, and its leader Arvind Kejriwal is no longer the same. Barely a year after losing power to the BJP in Delhi, AAP suffered its greatest jolt on Friday when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha and Maliwal, quit the party. The other defectors were Sandeep Pathak, a key face of the party organisation, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney. Maliwal, who joined the BJP after defecting, praised the "decisive and strong leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I left my home, lived in slums for seven years, quit my job and supported every movement. But when I tried to file an FIR after being assaulted, I was beaten up at Kejriwal's residence by his aide," Maliwal told PTI Videos. She claimed that when she tried to pursue the complaint, she was "threatened and pressured" to withdraw it. "For two years, I wa

'They matter little alone': Mann mocks defected AAP MPs with spice analogy

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday attacked the seven Rajya Sabha members who quit the AAP through a culinary analogy to say that on their own, each defected leader amounts to little. In a sarcastic post on X, Mann wrote in Punjabi, "Ginger, garlic, cumin, fenugreek powder, red chilli, black pepper, and coriander - these seven things together make a dish taste great, but on their own, cannot become a dish." His comment came a day after he called the seven defectors traitors. In a surprise move on Friday, AAP Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak announced that they were quitting the party and joining the BJP along with five other MPs. Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal, and Vikramjit Sahney were the other AAP MPs they named. Chadha alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals, which is why he was joining the BJP. He said the seven had merged with the BJP as a faction. In th

Chadha, others wouldn't have quit if AAP followed 'right path': Anna Hazare

Social activist Anna Hazare has said Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha members would not have quit the party had it followed the "right" path. "Everyone has the right to hold an opinion in a democracy. They (Chadha and others) must have faced some trouble, which is why they left," Hazare told reporters on Friday in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra. AAP Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak addressed a joint press conference in Delhi on Friday, announcing their exit from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to join the BJP. Chadha claimed that nearly two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members had quit the party and would function as a separate faction. "It is their (AAP leadership's) fault. Had that party followed the right way, they would not have left," Hazare said. Hazare reiterated that Chadha and others must have faced difficulties within AAP, and that is why they left. "Had the party gone in the right direction, they would not have quit the

Who is Ashok Mittal? Ex-AAP MP who switched to BJP 10 days after ED raid

Rajya Sabha MP and LPU founder rose from a family sweets business to build a major education enterprise, gaining prominence in AAP before joining the exodus led by Raghav Chadha

Blow to Kejriwal's 'dictatorship': Rekha Gupta on 7 AAP MPs' joining BJP

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday that the exodus of seven Rajya Sabha MPs of the AAP is a "direct blow" to the "dictatorship" of party supremo Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP suffered a jolt on Friday as seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, quit the party, with Chadha asserting that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles. Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal were the other four parliamentarians in the group of seven. In a post on X, CM Rekha Gupta said the AAP was founded with the slogan of 'inquilab', but was now ending in mistrust and separation. "Now only corrupt people are there in your party and not the common man," she said. The AAP termed the resignation of the seven MPs a "betrayal of Punjab" and accused the BJP of engineering the split by using the fear of central agencies.

Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including Chadha, announce switch to BJP

Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, announce move to BJP, boosting NDA strength in Upper House ahead of crucial state elections

ED conducts raids at premises linked to Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted searches at premises linked to Punjab industries minister Sanjeev Arora and some others as part of an investigation, officials said. Locations in Ludhiana and some others places are being covered by the agency officials, they said. Arora, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, was raided by the ED in 2024 too. It has then said in a statement that companies linked to Arora and some other entities caused "loss" to the state government and generated "huge" proceeds of crime by alleged misuse of industrial land for residential projects. A few days back, the federal probe agency conducted FEMA searches at the premises of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal and his educational institutions in Punjab and Haryana.

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