Page 20 - Aap

Drone mist-spraying pilot project in hitch for high costs, limited results

A pilot project that involves the use of drones to spray mist at pollution hotspots has not been approved over the high cost and lack of measurable results, an official has said. The technology was proposed as part of Delhi's 21-point Winter Action Plan to combat worsening air quality. Officials have deemed the project costly and ineffective, stating it has failed to deliver significant, measurable improvements. "The technology is extremely expensive and does not provide noticeable advancements compared to existing methods, which are already yielding better results at a fraction of the cost," an official involved in the evaluation told PTI. On November 8, a demonstration of the project was conducted at Anand Vihar, one of Delhi's most polluted areas. During the demonstration, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai highlighted challenges posed by hotspots, such as narrow roads or congested areas where traditional modes of transport, such as trucks, cannot reach. "Pollution levels in

Goa cash-for-jobs scam: BJP calls allegations by Sanjay Singh 'laughable'

AAP MP Sanjay Singh, alongside AAP Goa President Amit Palekar, alleged that the BJP engaged in large-scale corruption in job recruitment

Delhi HC to hear plea against Kejriwal's bail in excise case in Jan 2025

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday posted on January 17, 2025, the enforcement directorate's plea against the bail granted to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the 2021-22 excise policy-linked money laundering case. The ED counsel urged Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri to defer the hearing in the matter on account of the unavailability of additional solicitor general S V Raju. The request was opposed by senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary, representing the AAP leader, citing "pressing urgency" in the matter. Chaudhary said the agency should withdraw its plea and the court should vacate its stay on the operation of the trial court's order granting bail. "You can't have a sword hanging on my head," he said. The ED counsel, however, said Kejriwal was already on bail pursuant to an order passed by the Supreme Court. On July 12, the top court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case while referring to a larger bench three questions on the aspect of "need and necessity

AAP to go solo for Delhi elections, rules out alliance with Congress

AAP announces it will contest the Delhi Assembly elections independently, dismissing rumours of a Congress alliance

SC relaxes Manish Sisodia's bail conditions in Delhi excise policy cases

The Supreme Court on Wednesday relaxed bail conditions of AAP leader Manish Sisodia which required him to report to the investigating officer twice a week in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the Delhi excise policy. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan relaxed the conditions, saying they were not necessary. "The petitioner shall regularly attend the trial," the bench said. The apex court on November 22 agreed to hear Sisodia's pleas and issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking their responses on the applications. On August 9, the apex court had granted him bail in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, saying long incarceration for 17 months without trial had deprived him of his right to speedy trial. The apex court had imposed conditions, including that he shall report to the investigating officer on every Monday and Thursday between

AAP terms BJP 'anti-Jat', questions 'delay' in Shokeen's appointment

The AAP Tuesday accused the BJP of having an "anti-Jat mindset" while citing the "delay" in the swearing-in of Raghuvinder Shokeen as a minister in the Delhi government. Shokeen's appointment as minister, to replace Kailash Gahlot who quit AAP and joined the BJP, was announced by the ruling party last month. In a joint press conference, AAP leaders questioned the "delay" in the swearing-in of Shokeen, an MLA from the Jat-dominated Nangloi constituency in the city. "The BJP's anti-Jat mindset has been exposed," AAP's chief national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar charged. Even 20 days after his nomination, Shokeen has still not been sworn in as a cabinet minister, she said. "The AAP government on November 18 sent the file to appoint MLA Raghuvinder Shokeen as a Cabinet minister but it hasn't been approved yet," Kakkar claimed. Questioning the "delay", another AAP leader Anurag Dhandha said, "Does the BJP not want a Jat leader to become a minister?" The file for the appointment of a

AAP chief Kejriwal to be alloted a govt accommodation soon: Khattar

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that a government accommodation will soon be allotted to AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, which he is entitled to as the chief of a national party. Responding to a question at a press conference, Khattar said that as the president of a national party, Kejriwal is entitled to a Type VII bungalow. However, all Type VII bungalows are currently occupied, he added. "At present, we only have Type V and VI bungalows available, but there is currently no availability of Type VII bungalows. Kejriwal will be allotted a Type VII bungalow as soon as it is available," Khattar said The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been demanding a central government accommodation for Kejriwal, asserting that he is entitled to it as the convenor of a national party. The party recently sent a letter to the Union Housing Ministry reiterating this demand. Kejriwal, who resigned as the Delhi chief in September, shifted to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok

Rs 10 lakh insurance, free coaching: Kejriwal's 5 promises to auto drivers

Ahead of 2025 Delhi elections, Arvind Kejriwal has announced five key guarantees for auto drivers, including Rs 1 lakh for daughters' marriages, Rs 10 lakh insurance, and free coaching

BJP issues 'chargesheets' against AAP MLAs, alleges strong anti-incumbency

The BJP on Tuesday issued chargesheets against 10 AAP MLAs, accusing them of non-performance and claiming they face strong anti-incumbency in their respective constituencies. Leader of Opposition in outgoing Assembly Vijender Gupta, who heads the BJP's chargesheet committee formed to bolster the party's campaign for the assembly polls, said the AAP dropped its 18 sitting MLAs in its second list of 20 candidates announced on Monday. Two other MLAs -- former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Deputy Speaker of Assembly Rakhi Birla -- "deserted" their seats and chose "safer" options, he charged. "We will issue chargesheets on failures and misdeeds of the AAP government and its MLAs. These chargesheets will be distributed among the people in their constituencies," Gupta told a press conference. He said the "chargesheets" were issued against the MLAs of Madipur, Burari, Model Town, Mundka, Kalkaji, Gokulpur, Malviya Nagar, R K Puram, Moti Nagar and Narela constituencies. The tag

Delhi polls: AIMIM fields 2020 riots accused Tahir Hussain from Mustafabad

Tahir Hussain began his political career as a member of the AAP, where he served as a councillor in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, but was expelled from the party following the 2020 Delhi riots

Election Commission colluding with BJP: AAP on 'deletion' of voters' names

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Tuesday accused the Election Commission of "colluding with the BJP" as he reiterated his party's claims of deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. Addressing a press conference here, the Rajya Sabha MP said an application for the deletion of 3,800 voters' names has been submitted in RK Puram constituency and they belong to booths where the AAP has been winning elections. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders have been alleging that many voters' names have been deleted from electoral rolls ahead of the Delhi polls due to be held in February next year. "We came to know that an application for the deletion of 3,800 voters' names has been submitted in the RK Puram constituency. When our workers and local MLA verified these voters, they found that 1,800 of them are still living in the same place and are eligible voters," Singh claimed at the press conference. "The voters named in the applicati

Inspired by his vision: Sisodia vacates Patparganj seat for Avadh Ojha

Senior AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said he was inspired by educator Avadh Ojha's vision and dedication for education to vacate the Patparganj seat for him. Sisodia, who held the Patparganj seat since 2013, was fielded by AAP from the Jangpura constituency in the assembly polls. Ojha, a UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) coaching expert who recently joined AAP, will contest the polls from Patparganj. In a letter to AAP volunteers in Patparganj, Sisodia termed the constituency a symbol of the new revolution of education-based politics. "The schools in Patparganj are not only centres of education but also laboratories of future-building," he said. The former deputy chief minister said Ojha, at the time of joining AAP, expressed an willingness to start his political journey from the "laboratory of education" -- Patparganj. Sisodia said it was not an easy decision for him to vacate the Patparganj seat that had been the place of origin

Over 13k people benefited from single-window camps under PM-UDAY in Delhi

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena reviewed the progress of single-window camps under PM-UDAY, under which 13,300 applicants from unauthorised colonies visited and availed of the facility, the Raj Niwas said on Monday. The Prime Minister-Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM-UDAY) scheme aims to grant ownership rights to residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies in the national capital. The scheme's primary objective is to provide legal recognition to residents' properties by conferring ownership rights. On Saxena's instructions, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is holding these camps every weekend from November 30 to December 29 at 10 processing centres in these unauthorised colonies. The Raj Niwas said in its statement that Saxena had asked the DDA to undertake the exercise on a mission mode. These camps witnessed 13,353 applicants visiting to get their properties regularised, it said. Most applicants got their applications cleared and approved on the spot. In so

Centre should resolve farmers' issues without delay: Punjab Speaker

Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Monday slammed the Centre, accusing it of being "indifferent" to the genuine demands of farmers and leaving them "high and dry on the roads". Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open channels of communication with the protesting farmers, Sandhwan stressed that the Centre must take decisive action and resolve the farmers' issues without dragging its feet. "It was a bitter pill for Punjab's farmers to swallow, being left high and dry on the roads, while the Union government remained indifferent," said Sandhwan in a statement. He said in other countries, including those in Europe, farmers can take their issues straight to their parliaments, whereas Indian farmers are given "the cold shoulder" when they raise valid concerns. The Speaker reminded the Centre that the country's farmers not only put food on the table for millions but also serve as the backbone of India's trade, industry, and economy by producing a variety of crops. He ca

BJP responsible for fear after bomb threats to Delhi schools: Sisodia

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi attacked the Central government and said that the BJP-ruled central government has failed in its only task of providing security

AAP legal cell head removed as VC of Bar Council Delhi over degree row

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has removed Sanjeev Nasiar from the post of Bar Council of Delhi's vice chairman, pending the completion of an inquiry into the authenticity of his law degree. Nasiar, who is also the president of Aam Aadmi Party's legal cell, holds a law degree from Devi Ahilya Bai Vishwavidyalaya, Indore. In a press conference at AAP office, Nasiar alleged that the BJP has weaponised the BCI against him. "I am not afraid of any action or investigation." "I welcome any inquiry by the CBI or any other authority. I will not be intimidated. Every document of mine has already been verified, and the high court has upheld this," he claimed. Earlier, in a release issued on Sunday, the BCI said, "The sub-committee constituted by the BCI, after a thorough enquiry, concluded that the authenticity of the LLB (Hons) degree of Sanjeev Nasiar is highly questionable." It said the BCI's general council had resolved to adopt the committee's report and the BCI secretary had been dire

Law and order 'worrisome' in Delhi, we need to raise our voices: Kejriwal

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday lashed at the BJP-led Centre over "worrisome" law and order in the national capital and asserted the situation would have been different if his party government exercised control over Delhi Police. Addressing a 'padyatra' ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in Karol Bagh, Kejriwal said he start an agitation with the public to force the Centre to ensure their safety in the city. "Delhi Police is not in our control, otherwise, the situation in Delhi would not have been this bad. Just as I fixed schools, hospitals, and electricity, I would have fixed law and order too," he asserted. "Now we need to raise our voices. All of us together must raise our voices. I will unite all of Delhi, and we will demand from these BJP leaders to provide security to Delhi," he said. The AAP has stepped up its attack on the BJP ahead of the elections for 70 Assembly seats in Delhi due February next year. "Delhi chose me to fix electricity, water, education and ...

Winter action plan: Delhi govt to set up 230 tents as shelter for homeless

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has set up 235 pagoda tents to provide shelter to homeless individuals during cold winter nights, according to officials. According to the Delhi government's winter action plan 2024-25 launched on November 15, a total of 250 tents are to be set up. The remaining 15 tents have been reserved for an emergency. "Each tent is equipped with essential amenities such as mattresses, blankets, toilet facilities, and health checkup services, along with three meals a day," an official said "Security measures have also been taken, with three guards assigned for each tent working eight-hour shifts," he said. For individuals staying in permanent shelter buildings, additional facilities such as geysers for hot water are being provided to ensure a more comfortable stay during the cold months, he added. Delhi recorded its coldest night of the season on Saturday, with the mercury dropping to 7.1 degrees Celsius. On Sunday, the city recorded a low of

As long as Amit Shah remains HM, murders will happen daily in Delhi: AAP

Delhi CM Atishi claimed that the BJP-ruled central government has caused a breakdown of the law and order situation in Delhi, due to which the residents are troubled

AAP announces women's honorarium in Delhi; finance dept cites budget issues

AAP government's plan to provide a monthly honorarium of Rs 1000 to eligible women in Delhi before the upcoming Assembly polls, seems to have hit the bureaucratic logjam with the Finance department flagging budgetary constraints, officials said on Friday. The Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojna of the AAP government was announced in the budget 2024-25 for providing Rs 1000 to each of the eligible women in Delhi per month. An allocation of Rs 2,000 crore was also made by the government in the budget for the scheme. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has been reiterating in his Padyatra campaigns for the Assembly polls, that the scheme will be launched soon and the monthly honorarium will be credited to the bank accounts of the women. A week ago while campaigning in Burari constituency, Kejriwal also said that registration for the scheme will start very soon. However, officials said that the Finance department of the Delhi government has ...