Page 66 - Aap

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 ...

AAP extends 'in-principle' support to UCC, wants govt to hold consultations

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday extended its "in-principle support" to a Uniform Civil Code but said it should be brought in with a consensus after extensive consultations with stakeholders. The government should hold extensive consultations on the proposal with all stakeholders, including political parties and non-political entities, AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said. "The AAP supports UCC in principle. Article 44 (of the Constitution) also supports it," Pathak told PTI. But the government should bring in UCC only when there is a consensus among the stakeholders, he said. "We believe that on such issues we should go ahead with consensus. We believe that this (UCC) should be implemented only after there is a consensus among all the stakeholders," Pathak said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday made a strong push for a Uniform Civil Code, asking how can the country function with dual laws that govern personal matters.

Criminal investigation needed: Congress on Kejriwal's house renovation

Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken on Tuesday said a full-blown criminal investigation is required into the "egregious expenditure of Rs 171 crore" on the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. He welcomed the Comptroller and Auditor General's probe into the "squandering" of public funds on Kejriwal's "sheesh mahal". The Union home ministry has recommended a special CAG audit, taking note of a May 24 letter by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena which pointed out the "gross and prima facie financial irregularities" in the "reconstruction" of the chief minister's official residence. "A full-blown criminal investigation is not just needed; it's a demand of justice. It's outrageous that public money was squandered on Dior-polished imported marble, million-rupee curtains, and kitchen appliances worth crores, all while demolishing a British-era heritage structure and callously decimating trees," Maken said on Twitter. "Sheesh Mahal Breaking News: Encouraged to see the CAG .

Reflects BJP's 'desperation': AAP slams CAG audit in Kejriwal's renovation

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday condemned the Centre's decision to initiate a CAG audit into the reconstruction expenses of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence, saying the move "reeks of desperation" as the BJP anticipates a defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. The ruling party's sharp reaction came after Raj Niwas officials informed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India will conduct a special audit into the alleged "irregularities and violations" in the "reconstruction" of the chief minister's residence. The Union home ministry has recommended the special CAG audit taking note of a May 24 letter by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena which pointed out the "reconstruction" "gross and prima facie financial irregularities" in the "reconstruction" of the chief minister's official residence, the officials claimed. "This move by the Modi government reeks of desperation as the BJP anticipates an inevitable defeat in the upcoming 2024 general elections. As far as the C

Withdraw Sikh Gurdwaras Bill or face stir: SGPC chief Dhami tells govt

SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami on Monday warned that an agitation will be launched against the AAP-led Punjab government if the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was not withdrawn. Dhami also slammed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of interfering in SGPC matters and trying to implement the anti-Sikh thinking of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal with a motive of capturing the SGPC. Dhami was addressing a special general house session of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) here against the state government's move of bringing the bill. The Punjab Assembly on June 20 had passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which is aimed at ensuring free telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple. Addressing SGPC members here, Dhami, while condemning the Bill, asked the Punjab government to withdraw it immediately. If the state government does not stop interference in Sikh matters, then a morcha (agitation) will be started against it after performing 'ardas' ...

Arvind Kejriwal promises to redevelop all MCD schools in 5 to 7 years

The AAP government has bridged the gap between the rich and the poor in Delhi's education system by improving government schools, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday, promising to redevelop all MCD schools in the next five to seven years. He was speaking after inaugurating Sarvodaya Co-ed school in Libaspur village. Its classrooms, labs, library and halls are far better than those in private schools of Delhi, he said. Earlier, the condition of government schools in Delhi used to be terrible. Classes were held inside tents, ceilings of schools were broken. There were no toilets or facility even drinking water. Poor families were compelled to send their children to such schools but the AAP government bridged the gap between the rich and the poor in education in Delhi, Kejriwal said. He further said the AAP government has been focusing on improving schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. "We have started focusing on redeveloping MCD schools and it will take at le

Manipur is burning: AAP hits back at Rajnath as he takes on Mann govt

I think that Rajnath Singh has received the wrong information about Punjab. In Punjab the law and order situation has improved under the AAP-Bhagwant Mann government, Chadha said

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AAP slams Rajnath Singh as he takes on Mann govt over law, order issue

Hours after the Union Defence Minister took on the Bhagwant Mann government over the law and order issue, the ruling AAP slammed Rajnath Singh, saying that he was worried about Punjab but oblivious to the situation in Manipur. In a statement here, AAP Punjab spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said the defence minister should focus on controlling the volatile situation and violence in Manipur before making a statement on the law and order situation in Punjab. "Violence is widespread in Manipur. Hundreds of people have died so far and thousands have become homeless, but the BJP's central minister is doing politics to defame the non-BJP ruled states," he alleged. He said the prime minister has gone on a foreign visit while the home minister is holding rallies and the rest of the ministers are busy criticising the opposition parties. "While looking at the current situation in Manipur, all cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister, should have focused their attention on stopping th

AAP skips press briefing, slams Cong silence over Delhi services ordinance

Stopping short of staging a walkout at the opposition meeting in Patna on Friday, the Aam Aadmi Party skipped the press briefing and came out with a statement condemning the Congress' silence over the Delhi central ordinance. Party founder Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chaddha, who represented AAP at the meeting, were conspicuous by their absence at the press conference. However, on its official Twitter handle, the party came out with a statement asserting the centrality of the black ordinance, which not only aims to snatch democratic rights of an elected government in Delhi but poses a significant threat to India's democracy and constitutional principles. The statement noted that among the parties that attended the meeting in Patna, 12 have representation in the Rajya Sabha and except for the Indian National Congress all others have clearly expressed their stand against the ordinance and announced that they would ..

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AAP to move SC against appointment of ex-HC judge Umesh Kumar as DERC chair

The AAP government will move the Supreme Court against the appointment of former Allahabad High Court judge Umesh Kumar as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairman, Power Minister Atishi said on Thursday. Addressing a press conference, she said the government had recommended the name of Justice (retd) Sangeet Lodha for the post on June 21. However, it was "sidelined and former Allahabad High Court judge Umesh Kumar was appointed as the chairman by the BJP-led Centre. This has been done to 'trouble' the elected government of Delhi. In the coming days, we will approach the Supreme Court against this 'illegal' appointment," she said. A statement issued by the lieutenant governor's office on Wednesday night said Justice Kumar has been appointed the DERC chairman by President Droupadi Murmu. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had in January recommended the name of retired high court judge Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava for appointment as the chairperson of the power regulator.

Delhi CM calls NCCSA meeting to discuss transfer, posting of officers

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called the second meeting of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA) on June 28 to discuss the transfer and posting of officers in the city.

Punjab Assembly passes Bill to replace Governor from Chancellor's post

Amid conflict between AAP govt in Punjab and Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Punjab Assembly passed Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aiming to replace Governor from the post of chancellor

AAP MLA calls for adherence to fire safety rules in Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar

He mentioned that all the concerned departments under the Delhi Government were quick to respond, thus preventing any unwarranted situation from occurring