Page 22 - Aap

Dearth of own leaders: BJP slams AAP for fielding turncoats in Delhi polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing a shortage of its own leaders as six out of the 11 candidates named in its first list for Delhi Assembly polls are "turncoats" who switched to AAP from the BJP and Congress recently. The AAP announced its first list for the Assembly elections likely to be held early next year on Thursday, replacing three sitting MLAs and fielding six leaders who recently switched sides from rival parties. AAP became the first party to release candidates' names for the elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly. Claiming that the list reflects a lack of confidence within the ruling party, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, "The first list doesn't name the chief minister, Cabinet ministers or the other prominent leaders who work closely with the government. If AAP wants to win with 'pawns', this list shows its likely fate in Delhi." Sachdeva also claimed that internal rebellion in AAP would soon beco

BJP protests against AAP govt, distributes masks amid pollution crisis

BJP leaders on Tuesday staged a protest against the AAP government and distributed face masks at the most polluted areas of the city, Anand Vihar and ITO, as Delhi continued to grapple with severe air pollution. During an awareness-cum-mask distribution programme at Anand Vihar, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva slammed Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi, alleging the government's inaction in addressing the pollution crisis. "The people of Delhi are struggling for their breaths while Kejriwal and Atishi are defending AAP government in Punjab where crop stubble burning is choking the national capital. The condition of damaged roads and dust pollution has worsened the situation further," Sachdeva claimed. Former Union Minister Vijay Goel staged a protest at ITO, and alleged that the AAP government in Delhi has failed to help the people struggling against the persisting hazardous air in the city. Goel questioned how many more years it will take for .

Kailash Gahlot quits AAP, joins BJP: Is everything fine in the Aam Aadmi Party?

Former AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot has resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party and joined BJP. Watch the video to know what's happening.

Kailash Gahlot joins BJP after resignation, calls out AAP leadership

Gahlot criticised AAP for its 'constant fight against the Centre' and 'failure to deliver promises' citing these as reasons for his disillusionment

BJP accuses AAP of diverting attention after Kailash Gahlot's resignation

Former Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP on Monday, a day after resigning from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He joined the BJP at its headquarters in the presence of Union ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Harsh Malhotra, Delhi unit president Virendra Sachdeva and national media head Anil Baluni among others. Khattar described Gahlot's joining as a "turning point" in the politics of the national capital. The BJP is hopeful that Gahlot's induction into the party will boost its prospects in the upcoming assembly polls as it looks to wrest power from the AAP. Sachdeva said Gahlot, a two-term MLA and an advocate, is a leader known for his good work. Gahlot quit the AAP on Sunday, alleging "political ambitions" have overtaken the party's commitment towards people. "Instead of fighting for people's rights, we have increasingly only been fighting for our own political agenda," the 50-year-old said in his resignation letter to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Gahlot, a pro

AAP a sinking ship: Delhi Congress chief after Gahlot's resignation

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav on Sunday called the Aam Aadmi Party a sinking ship after its senior leader and Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot quit the party. While Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said many of the issues consistently raised by his party have now been pointed out by Gahlot in his resignation letter. Yadav said that two of the reasons cited by Gahlot in his resignation letter to former chief minister and party chief Arvind Kejriwal were the AAP government's failure to clean the polluted Yamuna river and the corruption in the construction of the 'sheeshmahal'. The BJP had dubbed Kejriwal's former official residence 6 Flagstaff Road as 'sheeshmahal', alleging that he spent crores on luxury items and modern facilities. Gahlot has also heaped more charges on Kejriwal by mentioning the "embarrassing and awkward controversies like the 'sheeshmahal' which are now making everyone doubt whether we still believe in being the AAM AADMI", Yadav said. The AAP has lost t

AAP govt to set up new model of law and order in Punjab, says Kejriwal

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said his party's government in Punjab will set up a new model of law and order in the state and called the Punjab Police as the "most disciplined" force. Kejriwal lauded the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab for improving the law and situation in the state but asserted that still a lot needs to be done. The AAP national convener was addressing a gathering during an event to handover appointment letters to newly recruited employees in the Punjab Police department. He was flanked by Chief Minister Mann at the event. The former Delhi chief minister said a total of 8,705 jobs have been given in the Punjab Police department in the past two and a half years in the state. "I am not saying it because it is our government in Punjab. But it is true that Punjab Police is the country's most disciplined, strict and most celebrated police force," he said. Referring to the previous governments, Kejriwal said before his party formed the governmen

Maharashtra will reject BJP's hate rhetoric, says AAP leader Sanjay Singh

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Friday said that the people of Maharashtra will defeat the language of hate used by the BJP in the run-up to the state assembly elections. Singh is in Nagpur to campaign for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates. Talking to reporters at Nagpur airport, the AAP leader claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi meted out a step-motherly treatment to Maharashtra by shifting investments worth Rs 2 lakh crore from the state to neighbouring Gujarat, and said this was a big issue on people's minds. "The people of Maharashtra will defeat the language of hate being used (by the BJP) in the elections here," he said and expressed confidence that the MVA will win the polls with a huge majority. The Aam Aadmi Party is a member of the opposition INDIA bloc. Giving a fresh spin on the saffron party's slogan, "batenge toh katenge", Singh said, "Na batiye, na katiye, milke BJP ko rapatiye (don't get divided, don't perish, together

Oppn parties in Punjab slam Centre's land 'allotment' for Haryana Assembly

Punjab's ruling AAP and opposition parties on Thursday criticised the Centre's reported move to clear the allotment of 10 acres of land in Chandigarh to Haryana for the construction of its assembly building. The AAP accused the BJP-led central government of conspiring against the state while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) claimed any decision to allocate land to Haryana in the union territory would be unconstitutional. The Congress said the Centre's clearance is "a calculated move to undermine Punjab's rightful share over its capital". The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has reportedly granted environmental clearance for the land offered by the Haryana government to the Chandigarh administration in exchange for land to build the second assembly building. The Haryana government offered 12 acres of land in Panchkula in exchange for 10 acres of land near IT Park Road in Chandigarh. At present, Punjab and Haryana share the Vidhan Sabha complex which is next to

AAP's Mahesh Khichi elected as Delhi mayor, Ravinder Bharadwaj deputy mayor

The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Mahesh Khichi was elected as the next mayor of Delhi on Thursday, marking a significant victory for the ruling party in the national capital ahead of the Assembly polls due early next year. As Khichi took his seat, the jubilant AAP councillors filled the air with the "Jai Bhim" slogan, celebrating the victory of the Dalit candidate in a tough contest. Khichi defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Kishan Lal by a wafer-thin margin of three votes, receiving 133 votes to the latter's 130. Two votes were declared invalid, with a total of 256 votes cast for the mayor's post. Following its defeat in the mayoral poll contest, the BJP withdrew from the race for deputy mayor, clearing the way for the AAP's Ravinder Bharadwaj to secure the position unopposed. The saffron party had fielded Nita Bisht for the deputy mayor's post. "Many congratulations to Mahesh Kumar ji on being elected as the new Mayor of Delhi. Work diligently for the people, take forward the

Amanatullah's bail in Delhi Waqf matter exposes PM Modi's 'false case': AAP

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan's bail in the Delhi Waqf matter has exposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "false case", senior party leader Sanjay Singh said on Thursday. A Delhi court on Thursday ordered Khan's release in a money-laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board while refusing to take cognisance of a charge sheet filed against him. "Bail to Amanat. Once again, Modi's false case has been exposed. Modi ji tried all his tricks but could not eliminate Arvind Kejriwal and AAP," the party's Rajya Sabha MP Singh said in Hindi on X. Echoing his colleague, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said this was bound to happen. "All AAP leaders are out now. The truth cannot be defeated and we are going to contest the Delhi elections with full strength," he said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 2 arrested Khan as part of a money-laundering investigation against him and some others linked to him. He was taken into custody under provisions of the

Satya Sharma reappointed as presiding officer for MCD mayoral polls

The stage is set for a high-stakes mayoral election on Thursday, as BJP councillor and former East Delhi mayor Satya Sharma has been reappointed as the presiding officer, according to civic body officials. Sharma, who also presided over the previous mayoral polls in December 2022, will again oversee the proceedings, they said. This year's contest pits AAP's Mahesh Khichi, the Devnagar councillor, against BJP's Kishan Lal from Shakurpur for the mayoral seat, with AAP's Ravinder Bhardwaj from Aman Vihar and BJP's Nita Bisht from Sadatpur competing for deputy mayor. The new mayor, a Dalit candidate, will serve a truncated five-month term due to political infighting. Since the last election, the AAP's count in the 250-member MCD House has dropped to 125, just below the majority mark, while the BJP's tally has risen to 113. The Congress holds eight seats and three are held by independents. In the previous elections, the AAP secured 134 out of 250 seats ending the BJP's 15-year rule ove

Delhi air pollution: BJP demands closure of schools up to Class 5

The BJP on Wednesday demanded the Delhi government order the closure of all schools up to Class five in view of the worsening air pollution situation as it hit out at the AAP over the issue, claiming the city has become a gas chamber. The national capital experienced the season's first dense fog on Wednesday, with "very poor" air quality. The air quality index (AQI) was 366 according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) real-time data at 9 am. Interacting with reporters, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the AAP government in Delhi should shut down all private and government schools up to class five to protect the children from the hazardous air quality. The Delhi government has "completely failed" to control pollution, Sachdeva said and claimed the PM 2.5 levels have crossed 400, and PM 10 levels have crossed 1,000. "Delhi has become a gas chamber where everyone is coughing and complaining of trouble in breathing," he said. Children and the elderly are the big

AAP deprived Delhi residents of better health infra: LoP Vijender Gupta

The BJP slammed the AAP government on Monday, saying it has deprived the Delhi residents of the benefits of better health infrastructure by not implementing the PM-ABHIM scheme. No immediate reaction was available from AAP over the charge made by the BJP. Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta, in a letter to Chief Minister Atishi, demanded implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) in Delhi. Under the scheme, 1,139 public health centres, testing labs and critical care units were to be established in Delhi's 11 districts but the AAP government did not use the Rs 2,406 crore provided by the Centre for these facilities, he alleged. "Delhi is the only state in the country that has not benefited from this scheme," he claimed. Delhi was allocated Rs 2,406 crore, which was supposed to establish 1,139 public health centres, 11 public health labs, 10 critical care blocks, four government hospitals with 100-bed critical care uni

Kejriwal terms AAP's work in education as sapling, warns against trampling

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday described the achievements of his party's government here in the education sector as planting a "small sapling" and claimed its "trampling" would erase any future for poor children's education. Interacting with parents of children studying in Delhi government-run schools as part of the AAP's 'Shiksha Par Baat, Maata Pita Ke Saath' programme here, he claimed that before the party came to power, the city's government schools were in "deplorable conditions, often operating out of tin sheds and tents". According to a statement from the AAP, the parents attending the event expressed their gratitude to Kejriwal for "revolutionising" the education system in Delhi. Addressing the meeting, Kejriwal sought the parents' opinion about the education system and said, "What we have achieved in the education sector in Delhi is just a small sapling. Its trampling would erase any future for poor children's education in this country." Referring to the time before

Council of ministers recommends deploying 10K CDVs as bus marshals: AAP

A day after the Delhi government approved the reinstatement of 10,000 civil defence volunteers (CDVs), the ruling AAP on Sunday claimed the council of ministers has recommended their "immediate" deployment as bus marshals. On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said that her government has passed a proposal to reinstate the CDVs removed as bus marshals in October 2023, for the next four months on duties involving enforcement of various anti-pollution measures. In a meeting held at Delhi secretariat on Sunday, the council of ministers handed over a report to Atishi, recommending immediate reinstatement of 10,000 bus marshals, the AAP said. The proposal for reinstatement of 10,000 CDVs as bus marshals will be sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for his approval, the party added. The CDVs were removed after objections were raised that they could only be deployed in disaster management duties and their use as bus marshals was against the rules. Atishi had said that the CDVs will

PM Modi trying to forcefully pass Waqf (Amendment) Bill: Sanjay Singh

Singh called the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tour a drama and a medium to divert attention from the issues

News updates: Terrorists kidnap, kill 2 village defence guards in J&K's Kishtwar

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from across the world here

AAP ramps up grassroots efforts with padyatras and booth committees

The strategic combination of padyatras, committee formations, and the upcoming convention is part of AAP's broader strategy to consolidate its ground-level support and ensure a strong presence

AAP seeks CBI probe into various cases of cash-for-jobs fraud in Goa

The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded a probe by the CBI or a retired high court judge into various cases of cheating on the promise of government jobs in Goa. Talking to reporters on Tuesday in South Goa, state AAP president Amit Palekar also sought an immediate halt of the process of recruitment in government departments. An inquiry should be conducted into the "scam" by the Central Bureau of Investigation. If not the CBI, then the probe should be carried out by a retired high court judge, he said. "The role of insiders in the entire scam should be probed as it does not look like some isolated cases. This is a big racket," he claimed. All senior officers, including those who are close to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, should be held accountable, he said. The Goa police have arrested half-a-dozen persons for their alleged involvement in the cash-for-government jobs scam, recently exposed following a series of cases registered at various police stations in the state. A person who was .