Page 56 - Aap

Delhi, Punjab tableaux for R-Day parade rejected to exact revenge: AAP

Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday said the BJP-led central government has rejected the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab for the Republic Day parade to "exact revenge on the AAP", which is in power in the capital and the border state. Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said the Centre has rejected Delhi's tableaux for three years now. The last time Delhi's tableau featured in the Republic Day parade was in 2021. It showcased the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project, according to officials. Bharadwaj said Delhi's tableau this year would have showcased schools in the city and the Mohalla Clinic model. "The tableau of Delhi, which is the capital of the country, was rejected by the Centre. Its tableau was rejected for the 2022 parade and then for the 2023 parade and now it has been rejected again for the 2024 parade," the minister said. The theme of the Republic Day parade was 'Nari Shakti' in 2023 and it is 'Viksit Bharat' for the 2024 parade, he said. "No one can say it's

Celebrities fought legal battles in HC; Court upheld 'Agnipath' in 2023

High-profile legal battles involving political luminaries, Bollywood celebrities and corporate bosses unfolded in the Delhi High Court in 2023 and kept it abuzz with activity. Amid the unrelenting cut and thrust of these battles, the Delhi High Court also gave the thumbs up for the Modi government's Agnipath scheme, launched in June 2022 for recruiting soldiers, sailors and airmen for a four-year period. The scheme, which envisaged an overhaul of India's fighting machine, making it sturdier with the induction of young people aged 17.5 and 21 years, was reviled by its detractors, got resounding endorsement from supporters, and upheld by the court. The high court also saw skirmishes involving media entities over alleged violation of Indian laws. From the Gandhis of the Congress to a host of beleaguered Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders like former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Raghav Chadha and Satyendar Jain knocked on its door for relief in matters that ranged from allege

Delhi's LG approves proposal to notify MTP Act; blames AAP govt for delay

The move, aimed at ensuring universal access for women to comprehensive abortion care, comes more than two years after the amendments were made by Parliament

Centre's rejection of Delhi govt's R-Day tableau political move, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday accused the BJP-led Centre of scuttling the Delhi government's plans of showcasing its health and education models at the Republic Day parade by rejecting its tableau in a political move. Addressing a press conference, the party's chief national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said the government was not provided any reason for the exclusion. "This decision is driven by politics. The Delhi government wanted to showcase its education and health model at the Republic Day parade. But Delhi and Punjab tableaux were excluded from selection," she alleged. Kakkar also claimed that the tableaux of BJP-governed states like Assam, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh have been given opportunities to showcase their tableaux continuously for the last five years. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday slammed the BJP for not including the state's tableau in the Republic Day parade, calling it a step towards removing the word Punjab from the national anthem. "If the

Year in review: How India's political landscape transformed in 2023

With the end of another year, we take a look at the biggest headlines and stories from Indian politics that defined 2023

LIVE: Priyanka Gandhi replaced as UP in-charge in Congress reshuffle

Catch the latest news updates from across the world

It's very unfortunate: AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sakshi Malik's retirement

After the election of Sanjay Singh as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Sakshi Malik on Thursday put her shoes on the table at the press conference

Delhi excise policy case: ED to supply case-related docs to Sanjay Singh

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has been arrested and charge-sheeted in the Delhi Excise policy money laundering case

It's not MPs but democracy that has been suspended: AAP's Raghav Chadha

"I would not say that some MPs were suspended but democracy has been suspended," the AAP leader added

AAP appoints Raghav Chadha as party leader in RS, replaces Sanjay Singh

The Aam Aadmi Party has appointed its MP Raghav Chadha as the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha in place of Sanjay Singh, sources said. In a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, the AAP party leadership has said that in the absence of Sanjay Singh, who has "health issues", Raghav Chadha will henceforth be the party's leader in the upper house. AAP MP Sanjay Singh is currently behind bars in the Delhi liquor policy case. Sources in the Rajya Sabha secretariat confirmed that a letter has been received from the AAP regarding appointing Chadha as its floor leader. The letter is with the RS Secretary General for implementation. Chadha is one of the youngest members of Rajya Sabha. The AAP has a total of 10 MPs in the Upper House currently. The AAP has the fourth largest strength in Rajya Sabha after the BJP, the Congress and the TMC.

Kejriwal's plea on his prosecution in PM degree defamation case rejected

A metropolitan court here on Friday rejected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his prosecution in a defamation case over his remarks regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational degree, saying no prior sanction from government was needed to proceed against him as argued by the defendant. Through his plea, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader had argued that he cannot be prosecuted without prior government sanction as he is a public servant as per the law. The court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate SJ Panchal rejected Kejriwal's plea, saying no such sanction was required, and kept the matter for further hearing on December 28. On December 13, the AAP convener had filed an application before Panchal's court challenging his prosecution in the matter on the grounds that since he is a public servant, sanction for prosecution should have been obtained under section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Under section 197 of the CrPC, prior ...

Delhi largest green belt among metros, pollution down since AAP govt: Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday the national capital has the largest green belt at 23.6 per cent among big metro cities, and asserted that pollution levels in the city have reduced since 2014 through sustained efforts. Rai responded to a query by an MLA about the number of trees planted and the decrease in pollution levels in the last five years in Delhi during the ongoing Winter Session of Delhi Assembly. "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made a resolve and promised the people during last polls that in five years two crore new trees will be planted. And in four years that target has been met," Rai informed the Delhi Assembly. Rai added that the plantation drive will be intensified in the remaining one year. On the issue of pollution, Rai shared the data on PM10 and PM2.5 levels, saying on average there has been a 31 per cent reduction in pollution levels since the formation of the AAP government. In 2014 , the yearly average of PM10 stood at 324 and st

CJI refuses to defer hearing on bail plea of AAP leader Satyendar Jain

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Thursday refused to adjourn the hearing on the bail plea of AAP leader Satyendar Kumar Jain in a money laundering case listed before another bench headed by Justice Bela M Trivedi, saying the judge concerned will take the decision. A bench comprising CJI and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain who is out on interim bail, that the proposed hearing on his plea by the Justice Trivedi-led bench during the day be deferred. Singhvi said a bench comprising Justice A S Bopanna and Justice Trivedi had heard substantial arguments in the case and now the matter is listed before the bench on which Justice Bopanna is not a part. We wish to seek a deferment. If you (the CJI) can kindly see the case papers once, the senior lawyer said. I will not control what the judge concerned is doing in the matter listed before her. The judge who has the case will decide. I cannot. I cannot take a ca

Govt mowed down democracy with this 'billdozer': Raghav Chadha on CEC bill

Further, Chadha underscored the pivotal role of an independent Election Commission in ensuring unbiased elections

Delhi HC asks Centre to respond to AAP's plea to allot land for its offices

Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's response on a plea by the AAP seeking allotment of land in the national capital for construction of its offices, having been recognised as a national party. Justice Subramonium Prasad issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Land and Development Officer, asking them to file their replies to the petition. The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 23. According to the Centre's policies and the fact that land has been allotted to all other national parties for construction of office premises in central locations of New Delhi, it is incumbent upon the respondents to ensure that a similar allotment is made in favour of the petitioner, as per its entitlement, the AAP said in its petition. The AAP claimed it is entitled to a total area of 1,000 square metres for construction of offices for its national and Delhi units in view of the policies issued by the Union ministry. "The memorandum (of t

Delhi govt plans to provide parents with live-feed of CCTVs in classrooms

The Delhi government has developed an app, called 'DGS Live', through which parents can get a live view of cameras installed in classrooms for about five minutes per class

Patients being charged upto Rs 50K for a bed in Central govt hospitals: AAP

Pandey said that it is a criminal act to allow brokerage to persist and at the same time deny beds at central government hospitals. These hospitals are run entirely by the central government

AAP has pushed Punjab into unprecedented crisis: BJP's Tarun Chugh

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Friday alleged the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government has plunged Punjab into an "unprecedented crisis" as he targeted the AAP government on economic and law and order fronts. In a statement, Chugh claimed that anti-national elements are having a free run in the border state, which is a matter of concern. "The Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government has plunged Punjab into an unprecedented crisis. Punjab under the AAP government has collapsed economically and... (there has been a) complete collapse of law and order," the BJP leader said. "The state has been bequeathed to gangsters who are running amok," Chugh said. "Moreover, anti-national elements are having a free play in the border state which is a very serious national concern," he said. The mining mafia, drug dealers and gangsters are having a good time, he charged. Chugh further claimed Punjab already has a debt of Rs 4 lakh crore and it is growing with every passing day. "Th

Election for the final seat in Rajasthan Assembly to be held on January 5

Polling for the Karanpur Assembly seat of Rajasthan has been adjourned following the death of the incumbent MLA and Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar

Congress should be more accommodating of regional allies: AAP leaders

The results in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh show that there is a "significant anti-Congress sentiment" in the Hindi belt, senior AAP leaders claimed on Monday. Ahead of the crucial meeting of the constituent parties of the INDIA block on Wednesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that the Congress should be more accommodating of regional parties in states. "The results of the three states show there is a significant anti-Congress sentiment in North India. "The purpose of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is to defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha polls, so Congress should give more space to regional parties in the states where they are better placed to combat the BJP," said a senior party leader, requesting anonymity. The BJP won assembly polls in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in results declared on Sunday, in a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. "The Congress used to accuse us of being a party that cut into their votes wherever w