Page 65 - Aap

Delhi floods caused under conspiracy by BJP: AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday alleged that flood in the city were caused by the the BJP-led Centre and Haryana government wilfully releasing water towards the national capital. Addressing a press conference here, Bharadwaj said it has not rained in Delhi in the last 3-4 days, yet still the water level in Yamuna reached 208.66 metres. "The water from Hathnikund Barrage is released from three canals -- Western Canal, Eastern Canal and Yamuna. As part of a conspiracy, between July 9 and 13, water was released from Yamuna canal only towards Delhi. There was no water released through the Western and Eastern Canal," he claimed. Similar charges were made by him and Delhi Chief Ministr Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, even as the city government butted heads with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena over a broken regulator that allegedly caused inundation on the Vikas Marg. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP on fresh allegation made by the Aam aadmi Party on Saturday.

Sonia Gandhi extends dinner invite to united Opposition, including AAP

D K Shivakumar states that Sonia Gandhi is likely to attend the second meeting of the Opposition with 24 parties in Bengaluru between July 17-18

Govt spying on AAP through central agencies, alleges Saurabh Bharadwaj

The Delhi Minister said that in one instance he noticed a group of seven people roaming outside AAP headquarters in Delhi. While three among them went in, four stayed outside

SC to hear Sisodia's bail plea in excise scam case filed by CBI, ED

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the bail pleas of Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia on July 14 in the excise policy scam case probed by the CBI and the money laundering matter arising out of it. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha agreed to hear the matter after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the former Delhi deputy chief minister, urged the court to take it up for hearing on grounds that his wife was seriously ill and hospitalised. The bench said although the matter is listed for hearing on July 17, it will take it up for hearing on July 14. Last week, Sisodia had moved the top court seeking bail in the CBI and ED cases related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. He has moved the apex court challenging the two orders of the Delhi High Court dismissing his bail petitions in these cases. Sisodia, who also held the excise portfolio among many that he handled as the deputy chief minister of Delhi, was first arrested by

Delhi CM calls meet to discuss waterlogging, rising water level in Yamuna

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss waterlogging caused by torrential rains in the city and Yamuna's rising water levels, officials said. The meeting will be held at the Delhi Secretariat. It will be attended by senior officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Delhi recorded 153 mm of rain in a 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, the India Meteorological Department said. The Delhi government issued a flood warning on Sunday as Haryana released more than one lakh cusecs of water into the Yamuna river from the Hathnikund barrage. The irrigation and flood control department said this was the first warning, with 1,05,453 cusecs of water discharged at 4 pm. The Central Water Commission (CWC) said the water level in the river in Delhi is rising and is expected to surpass the danger mark of 205.33 metres on Tuesday. According to the CWC

AAP launches Bijli Andolan in Haryana; Kejriwal target BJP over power cuts

The AAP on Sunday launched "Bijli Andolan" in Haryana from Panchkula, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal targeting the ruling BJP over power cuts in the state and saying that free and uninterrupted electricity supply is possible "if the intent is clean". At the event, Kejriwal was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. During the "Bijli Andolan" (electricity campaign), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and leaders will visit villages and towns and apprise people about "costly power" and regular outages and tell them that free and round-the-clock electricity is possible in Haryana too if the party is voted to power. "We are launching a Bijli Andolan... As you know, I have my roots in Haryana. Many people from the state have met me and told me about power problems. Some of them said that they have to face power cuts for six hours daily," Kejriwal said, addressing a gathering in Panchkula. Referring to a woman, who said she is a widow, among the audience, Kejriwal said

Ordinance on control of services: SC to Delhi govt plea on Monday

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea filed by the Delhi government challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance on control of services. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha is likely to hear the matter. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi had mentioned the matter seeking urgent hearing on July 6. In its plea, the AAP government has said it is an "unconstitutional exercise of executive fiat" that attempts to "override" the top court and the basic structure of the Constitution. Besides quashing the ordinance, the Delhi government has also sought an interim stay on it. The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has termed it as a "deception" with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance, which came a week after

Kejriwal putting AAP workers in govt jobs, alleges BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi

The BJP leader claimed further that many AAP workers had started taking down their social media accounts fearing that the benefits that they are extending to the ruling party

PM Modi takes dig at BRS during Telangana visit, calls KCR govt corrupt

In a veiled dig at the ruling BRS in Telangana and the AAP government in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it was for the first time that allegations of corruption deal between two political parties and state governments were cropping up. Pacts between two state governments for welfare and development issues like sharing water are common, but it is for the first time that such allegations are levelled against two parties, he said referring to the Delhi excise policy case. While AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Mninister Manish Sisodia has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the matter, BRS leader and Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter, K Kavitha, had appeared before the ED for questioning in connection with the case. Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for various projects worth Rs 6100 crore here, Modi said the BRS government has used up an entire dictionary to shower abuses on the central government a

Several AAP volunteers given jobs, salaries borne by Delhi govt: BJP

The BJP on Saturday launched a fresh attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that several AAP volunteers were given jobs and their salaries borne by the Delhi government exchequer. Sudhanshu Trivedi, the BJP's national spokesperson, said the names of several people who worked for Kejriwal but got salaries from the Delhi government have surfaced. There was no immediate reaction available from the AAP on the charge. The BJP's allegation comes days after 437 people hired as specialists, fellows and advisors were terminated by the Services department on the direction of Lt Governor VK Saxena. Trivedi alleged during a press conference that a new character of Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP has been revealed where party workers appointed on government salaries do partywork while holding government positions. Virendra Sachdeva, the BJP's Delhi unit chief, claimed the names of 116 people -- who have since deleted their social media accounts -- have surfaced, showing that they

LG's move to stop specialists' engagement will throttle work: CM Kejriwal

Stopping the engagement of specialists and advisors will "completely strangulate" Delhi government and its services, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday, hoping the move will be quashed by the Supreme Court. Kejriwal's remarks came days after Lt governor VK Saxena approved the termination of engagements of 400 specialists working with the Delhi government. In a follow up to the mass removal, the Services department on Wednesday wrote to different departments and agencies of government to stop engagement of persons as fellows and advisors without the approval of the LG. "This will completely strangulate Delhi govt and its services. I don't know what does Hon'ble LG achieve by doing all this? I hope Hon'ble SC immediately quashes it," Kejriwal said in a tweet on Thursday. Saxena terminated the services of around 400 'specialists' appointed by the Kejriwal government in different departments, citing alleged irregularities in recruitment. "... All the ...

AAP protests, burns effigies of govt's services ordinance in Delhi streets

Aam Aadmi Party MLAs protested against the ordinance passed by the central government and demanded its immediate withdrawal

Excise policy scam: Delhi HC set to pronounce order on Sisodia's bail plea

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to pass on Monday an order on the bail plea of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, arrested for his alleged role in the money laundering case relating to alleged irregularities in the city government's excise policy. As per a cause list uploaded on the court's website this morning, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma will pronounce the order on Sisodia's bail plea at 2:30 PM. Besides Sisodia, the high court will also pass orders on the bail pleas of businessmen Abhishek Boinpally, Benoy Babu and Vijay Nair, who are co-accused in the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arising from the alleged scam. Sisodia, former Delhi deputy chief minister and excise minister, was first arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged role in the scam and has been in custody since then. The high court has already denied him bail in the CBI case on May 30. He was arrested on March 9 in the case lodged by the ED and is currently in judicial custody.

Press right button: Punjab CM Mann kickstarts AAP's Chhattisgarh campaign

The Punjab CM, along with party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was addressing a mega rally at Science College Ground in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur

Delhi Cong to focus on door-to-door interactions ahead of 2024 LS polls

In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, Delhi Congress will focus on door-to-door interactions with the masses and re-energise its grass-roots level workers in the national capital, an official said on Saturday. The decision was taken in a meeting of party workers, leaders and office-bearers called by newly-appointed AICC in-charge of Delhi Congress Deepak Babaria, who also passed two resolutions political and organisational after the meeting. "Congress will spread Rahul Gandhi's message of love as his fight against the politics of hatred has resonated across the country. We will focus on door-to-door interaction with people and further energise the grass-roots level workers in the national capital," Babaria said while addressing the party workers. Babaria, a Gujarat Congress leader, formally took charge as in-charge of Delhi Congress at Rajiv Bhawan here on Saturday. Lashing out at the Aam Aadmi Party, Babaria said despite AAP securing a 13 per cent vote share in the Gujara

AAP demands Delhi L-G Saxena's apology over his remarks on freebies

The Aam Aadmi Party's chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Friday lashed out at Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena over his remarks on freebies and demanded an apology from him. She also said the LG should "give up the facilities" that he has been getting at the cost of taxpayers' money. A couple of days ago, Saxena had said the people of the national capital are now "used to freebies". The remarks made at an event titled 'Delhi 2041 - New Master Plan' seem to be directed at the AAP government's subsidies, primarily on water and electricity. At a press conference here, Kakkar said the LG should withdraw his statement and apologise to the public. "The LG has insulted the people of Delhi. He should know that Delhi collects the highest amount of tax. In last financial year, Rs 1.75 lakh crore tax was collected from Delhiites," she said. "The Centre's problem is Delhi has a staunchly honest government. The LG gets 3,000 to 4,000 free units of electricity, lives in Raj Niwas for f

Delhi govt reshuffle: Atishi gets revenue, planning, finance after L-G nod

Delhi minister Atishi has been given the additional charge of Revenue, Planning and Finance departments following LG V K Saxena's nod to the cabinet reshuffle proposal, officials said on Friday. The three departments were earlier with minister Kailash Gahlot. With the additional charge, Atishi, who also holds the distinction of being the only woman minister in the cabinet, will now hold 12 portfolios, the highest among all ministers. "Delhi LG VK Saxena has approved the proposal and the file reached the government," said the official. A row had erupted over the cabinet reshuffle issue on Thursday with government officials claiming that the file pertaining to it was lying with the Lt Governor for four days, a charge denied by the latter's office. Atishi along with Saurabh Bharadwaj was inducted into the cabinet following the resignation of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain after their arrest. While Sisodia was arrested in connection with excise policy case, Jain was arrested last

TN minister Balaji's dismissal by governor outrightly unconstitutional: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday termed the dismissal of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji by Governor R N Ravi "outrightly unconstitutional" and said such decisions come under the "exclusive domain" of the chief minister. The AAP's reaction came after the governor dismissed Balaji from the Council of Ministers, days after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. Chief Minister M K Stalin said his government will challenge the governor's move legally, contending that Ravi had no authority to dismiss a minister from the cabinet. Coming out in support of the DMK government in the southern state, AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha wrote on Twitter: "Dismissal of V Senthil Balaji by Tamil Nadu Governor is outrightly unconstitutional." Chadha said according to the Constitution, decisions pertaining to the appointment and removal of ministers as well as a cabinet reshuffle come under "the exclusive domain of the chief minister". The

L-G Saxena holding onto cabinet reshuffle file, claims Delhi AAP govt

The file relating to the cabinet reshuffle in the AAP dispensation has been lying with Delhi LG V K Saxena for the last four days waiting to be signed, a government source said on Thursday. "The file to approve these changes has been with the Lt Governor for last four days. His predecessor, Anil Baijal, used to approve such files within half an hour," the source said, adding the reshuffle is going to be a major one. All the same, sources from the LG office denied the allegation and said the file was signed on Wednesday and sent to the government. There have already been a number or shuffles in the ministerial posts in the last few months in the Delhi government. Following the resignations of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who both are in jail in the alleged excise policy scam, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi were sworn in as ministers in March this year.

Delhi govt released Rs 100 cr for DU colleges, says Atishi Marlena

The Delhi government has released Rs 100 crore for 12 Delhi University colleges that are fully funded by it, considering the administration's financial mismanagement, Delhi Education Minister Atishi said on Wednesday. "There has been certain financial mismanagement in the government colleges in the last few years. We think teachers and students shouldn't suffer because of this. Keeping their welfare in mind, a fund of Rs 100 crore is being released to these 12 colleges," Atishi said. She said that even though some colleges are currently undergoing audits, the Delhi government is ensuring that teachers continue to get their salaries, medical benefits and pension benefits that were delayed due to financial mismanagement. "If any financial irregularities are found in any college after the audit process, strict action will be taken against the administration. However, the teachers should not worry as they will receive their salaries on time, as well as timely medical and pension ...