Page 49 - Aap

LS election: AAP-Cong seek to end BJP all-seat winning streak in Delhi

It will be a direct fight between the AAP-Congress alliance and the BJP on the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital. The BJP, which won all the seats in the 2019 as well as the 2014 polls, is optimistic of repeating the feat, despite the INDIA bloc partners coming together in an attempt to end its streak. Of the parliamentary constituencies here, New Delhi and South Delhi are the seats to watch out. In the past these have sent prominent leaders from both the Congress and the BJP to the Lok Sabha, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former deputy prime minister LK Advani, Madan Lal Khurana, Sushma Swaraj and Lalit Makan. The North East Delhi seat will see BJP's Manoj Tiwari trying to retain it for a third time in a row. He is the only sitting MP that the party has repeated here for the polls. The other Lok Sabha seats are Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, North West Delhi and West Delhi. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is contesting four constitue

Will seek votes on basis of works done by our govt: Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said his party will seek votes on the basis of works undertaken by his government in the state in the last two years. Mann-led dispensation completed two years in office on Friday. After the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stormed to power by winning 92 out of 117 seats in the state during the state assembly polls, Mann had taken oath as the chief minister at Khatkar Kalan on March 16, 2022. Khatkar Kalan in SBS Nagar is legendary martyr Bhagat Singh's ancestral place. Mann along with his wife on Saturday offered prayers at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali on the completion of two years of his government. "I prayed for the progress of Punjab," said Mann after offering prayers at the historic gurdwara. Asked about the AAP's preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Mann said his party will seek votes on the basis of works undertaken in the past two years. "We do politics of work," he said. About his government's works, he poin

Senior Punjab Congress leader Raj Kumar Chabbewal quits party, joins AAP

In a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, senior party leader from Punjab and MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal on Friday quit the party and joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. The 54-year-old Chabbewal quit as a legislator from the Chabbewal assembly constituency in the Hoshiarpur district. He was also the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. The prominent Dalit leader joined the AAP here and was welcomed into the party fold by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Chabbewal is the second Congress leader from Punjab to join the AAP within a week. Gurpreet Singh GP, a former Congress MLA from Bassi Pathana, had recently joined the AAP. The AAP, which named its candidates for eight of the 13 Lok Sabha seats on Thursday, is likely to field him from the Hoshiarpur reserved parliamentary constituency. Speaking to reporters here in the presence of Punjab ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Chabbewal said he is impressed with the pro-people policies

Delhi Cabinet gives nod to extend electric vehicle policy till June

The Delhi Cabinet on Friday approved the extension of Electric Vehicle policy till June this year. All current incentives and subsidies remain intact, and any vehicles purchased from January 1 onwards will be eligible for the benefits under this extension, a Delhi government statement said. The Delhi EV policy has been extended till June 30 or until the notification of Delhi EV policy 2.0, whichever is earlier, it added. The decision to extend the policy was taken in a Cabinet meeting on Friday. Comments and suggestions from various stakeholders are currently being considered for inclusion in the upcoming Delhi EV Policy 2.0, the statement said. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said, "The extension of the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy underscores our dedication to fostering a sustainable and eco-friendly transport ecosystem in the capital. Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, we are committed to making Delhi a leader in electric mobility at globa

AAP withdraws candidate from Guwahati, asks Cong to step back on 2 seats

The Assam unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday withdrew its candidate from the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency "for the sake of opposition unity" to defeat the ruling BJP nominee. It challenged the Congress to return the gesture and withdraw its candidates from Dibrugarh and Sonitpur seats, for which the AAP has declared its nominees. Both the Congress and AAP are part of the 16-party United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), formed to contest the general elections together, but a rift had emerged with members of the forum announcing candidates against each other in various constituencies of the state. The AAP, in a statement, expressed its grievance towards the Congress for naming its candidates for the three seats in which the former had also announced its nominees. The grand old party declared its candidate list for 12 seats on Tuesday, leaving Dibrugarh for UOFA partner Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and still remaining undecided on the candidate for another seat, Lakhimpur. AJP

Hindu, Sikh refugees protest against Kejriwal over his comments against CAA

Hindu and Sikh refugees living in various parts of Delhi staged a protest near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Civil Lines residence here on Thursday, demanding an apology from him over his statements against the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The protesters assembled near the Chandgiram Akhara and attempted to march towards Kejriwal's bungalow, but were stopped by police. "The Narendra Modi government is giving us citizenship while Kejriwal is asking who will give us jobs and houses. He does not understand our pain," said Panjuram, one of the protesters. The protesters said Kejriwal should withdraw his statements against the CAA and refugees and tender an apology. Hindu and Sikh refugees living in Rohini, Adarsh Nagar, near Signature Bridge and Majnu ka Tilla took part in the protest. At a press conference on Wednesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to settle poor people hailing from minority communities in Afghanistan, ..

To benefit citizens, Delhi govt built 63 flyovers in 10 yrs: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the AAP government has built 63 flyovers in the city over the last 10 years and provided all possible benefits to citizens. Inaugurating a three-lane flyover at Moti Nagar, Kejriwal said it will cut down the travel time for commuters and provide relief to them from traffic snarls. "This flyover will provide relief to people from traffic jams. We have built around 63 flyovers since we came to power. What the previous governments have done in 75 years, we have done more in the last 10 years. All it takes is the will to do the work," he said. Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has government provided all possible benefits to citizens -- from free electricity to good education. "Our government schools are so good that there is no difference between the children of the rich and the poor. We have fixed the government hospitals, opened mohalla clinics, provided free bus rides to women," he said.

'Stop telling lies': BJP responds to Arvind Kejriwal's criticism of CAA

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's criticised CAA, calling it 'dirty vote bank politics' by the BJP, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024

Delhi excise scam: Court extends Manish Sisodia's judicial custody

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a corruption case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam. Special Judge M K Nagpal extended the custody of Sisodia till March 22 after he was produced before the court on the expiry of his remand. The judge passed the order after the CBI counsel claimed that the investigation was at a crucial stage and if released on bail, Sisodia may hamper the ongoing probe or flee from justice. The judge also reserved the order on the application of the accused raising objections to the commencement of arguments on the framing of charges. The court is likely to pronounce the order on March 22. The CBI as well as the ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi Excise Policy 2020-21, undue favours were extended to licence holders, licence fee was waived or reduced and licences were extended without the competent authority's approval. The beneficiaries allegedly diverte

Money laundering case: SC to hear AAP's Sanjay Singh's bail plea on Mar 19

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear on March 19 a plea filed by AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who has challenged an order of the Delhi High Court which refused to grant him bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra was informed by the counsel appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that they would file their reply to Singh's plea during the day. The ED's counsel said the apex court had on February 26 issued notice to the probe agency seeking its response on the plea. He said the reply was ready and would be filed. "You are filing it today?" the bench asked. The counsel said the ED would file the reply during the day. "Then we will keep it on next Tuesday," the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on March 19. A separate plea filed by Singh challenging his arrest and remand in the money-laundering case also came up for hearing before the ...

Lok Sabha polls: Lord Krishna is with us, says Kejriwal in Kurukshetra

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his party has 'dharma' with it and asked people to decide whether they are with 'dharma' or 'adharma'. Addressing a public meeting in Haryana's Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency, the Delhi chief minister urged people to vote for his party candidate Sushil Gupta from the seat. The AAP and the Congress will fight the Lok Sabha polls in alliance in Haryana. Under the tie-up, the AAP will contest from the lone Kurukshetra seat out of total 10 parliamentary seats in the state. Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal invoked the Mahabharata and said Kurukshetra is a pious land where the 'dharmayudh' was fought. 'Pandavas' had won it despite 'Kauravas' having everything, said the AAP convener who was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. "What Pandavas had? Lord Shri Krishna was with them," he said. "Today, what we have with us. We are too small. Lord Shri Krishna is with us," said Kejriwal. Referring to the BJP-led Centre, Kejriwal sa

Delhi L-G, AAP govt trade charges over civic issues in slum clusters

Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and the AAP government traded charges on Saturday over the city's civic issues as he shared on social media pictures highlighting cleanliness issues in the slum clusters of Tehkhand and Okhla. Posting pictures captured during his Friday visit to Golkuan in Tehkhand and Sanjay Colony in Okhla, both slum areas in southeast Delhi, Saxena requested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take cognisance of it. In its reaction to Saxena's posts and pictures on X, the Kejriwal government alleged in a statement that three lakh slum-dwellers in Delhi have become homeless due to LG's decisions and directions. The LG office sent out a strongly-worded reply, saying, "This is typical and blatant lie being peddled, supposedly by Delhi government." "Not a single Jhuggi has been removed at LG's directions. In fact, on many occasions, the last being at Majnu ka Tila, demolitions were stopped due to LG's intervention," a Raj Niwas official said. The LG has made four

Kejriwal, Mann launch AAP's LS poll campaign in Delhi, lashes out at Centre

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann on Friday launched the AAP's Lok Sabha elections campaign with the slogan "Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, toh Dilli hogi aur khush haal". The AAP is a member of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, which has pitted itself against the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls that are likely in April-May. Launching the campaign at the AAP's headquarters in the national capital, Kejriwal lashed out at the BJP, the Centre and the Delhi Lt Governor for allegedly stalling the works of his government and appealed to the people to give their blessings by ensuring victory for all seven candidates of the AAP-Congress combine in Delhi. The AAP is contesting from four of Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats while the Congress will field candidates from three. "I have made all efforts to serve the people of Delhi who are my family, without considering myself as the chief minister," Kejriwal, the AAP's national ..

Lok Sabha polls: Kejriwal, Mann launch AAP's political campaign in Delhi

Also, the AAP is going to contest the general elections in alliance with Congress and both parties have closed their seat-sharing negotiations for Delhi Lok Sabha seats on a 4:3 formula

INDIA bloc lacks unity, has no vision or agenda for LS elections: BJP

The Opposition grouping INDIA has no unity, vision or agenda for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, claimed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party here on Thursday. BJP Goa spokesman Yatish Naik said that hours after the constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) met in Goa, the Congress and AAP were seen sparring in the Punjab Assembly. Leaders of INDIA parties, including Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar) met here on Wednesday and decided to set up a coordination committee to formulate a joint strategy for the Lok Sabha elections in Goa. The coastal state has two Lok Sabha constituencies North Goa and South Goa. In the 2019 general elections, the BJP won the North Goa seat, while the other went to the Congress. Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Naik said on Thursday that the Opposition bloc was focussed on resurrecting a rejected dynast who has failed time and again. The BJP spokesman claimed the

2020 Northeast Delhi riots: Delhi's Karkardooma Court acquits 11 accused

These accused were charge-sheeted in a case of rioting and criminal conspiracy by Delhi Police in relation to an FIR lodged at police station Dayal Pur

ED files court complaint against Arvind Kejriwal for skipping summonses

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a fresh complaint before a Delhi court seeking prosecution of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for skipping multiple summonses issued to him in a money laundering case, official sources said on Wednesday. The latest complaint pertains to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor not honouring summonses no. 4 to 8 sent by the federal probe agency under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. The court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra has listed the matter for hearing on Thursday. The ED had earlier moved a local court seeking Kejriwal's prosecution for not attending the first three summonses issued to him in the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The court of ACMM Malhotra has listed this matter (regarding summonses no. 1 to 3) for hearing on March 16. Kejriwal, 55, had called all the ED summonses "illegal" and informed the agency last time that

SC grants AAP time till June 15 to vacate offices at Rouse Avenue

The Supreme Court on Monday granted the Aam Aadmi Party time till June 15, 2024 to vacate its offices at Rouse Avenue here after noting that the land was allotted to the Delhi High Court for expanding judicial infrastructure. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked AAP to approach Land And Development Office for allotment of land for its offices. "We would request the L&DO to process the application and communicate its decision within a period of four weeks," the bench said, adding AAP has no lawful right to continue on the land. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the city's ruling party, submitted that AAP is one of the six national parties in the country. "They are telling us as a national party we get nothing. I'm given Badarpur, while everyone else is in better places," Singhvi said. "In view of the impending general elections, we gant time until June 15, 2024 to vacate the premises so that land allotted to expand

Delhi govt's budget to be based on 'Ram Rajya' concept, says report

The Delhi government's budget for the 2024-25 financial year, which will be presented in the Assembly on Monday, is likely to be based on the concept of "Ram Rajya", sources said. The sources in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government said on Sunday that the budget is likely to have something for every section of the society in the election year. "This time, the budget is likely to be based on the concept of Ram Rajya. This will be the 10th budget of the AAP dispensation. The budget is likely to have provisions for every section of the society, in accordance with the principles of Ram Rajya, in the election year," a source said. The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has often spoken about the concept of "Ram Rajya". In his Republic Day speech, he had said the AAP government has adopted 10 principles of "Ram Rajya" and is providing quality education, healthcare services, free electricity and water to people and ensuring women's ...

Centre govt suffering from 'anti-Punjab' syndrome, says Arvind Kejriwal

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged that the Centre is suffering from "anti-Punjab" syndrome and asked the people to punish it in the coming Lok Sabha polls. He also appealed to the people of Punjab to make his party victorious on all 13 seats. Kejriwal took on the Centre for allegedly rejecting Punjab's tableau for the Republic Day parade, saying it was humiliation of Punjabis and added that the martyrs of state do not need "NOC" (no-objection certificate) from the Centre for their supreme sacrifices. The Centre is suffering from anti-Punjab syndrome due to which they need to be taught a lesson, he said, and slammed the Union government for creating "obstacles" in the smooth functioning of the non-BJP ruled states. This is "high-handedness" of the Centre, he added. The Delhi chief minister was addressing a gathering here. Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had detailed deliberations with the industrialists and traders during 'Sarkar Vyapaar