Page 100 - Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi govt overcoming various hurdles being put in its way: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said various hurdles were being put in the way of the city government but it was overcoming them to work for people. Talking to reporters after the conclusion of the first day of the budget session of Delhi Assembly, he said LG V K Saxena had also said that the government has been working despite various obstacles. "There is interference in the functioning of the government. Various obstacles are being put but we are crossing them and working with the support of the people of Delhi. Not only the people of Delhi but the entire country acknowledges this," Kejriwal said. While exiting the assembly, Saxena said in the last few days, the dignity of speech has been shattered. When Kejriwal was asked about the remarks, he said: "These are small things. Democracy should be respected. If two crore people have chosen a government, it should be allowed to work. It is not good to interfere in its functioning," he said.

Feedback Unit case: CBI slaps new case on former Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia

Delhi's jailed former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has been booked by the CBI in a new case related to alleged misuse of official position and financial impropriety in the government's Feedback Unit (FBU) which was also used for "political snooping", officials said Thursday. Already arrested by the CBI in the excise policy case and at present in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate, the woes of 51-year-old Sisodia aggravated after the agency registered a fresh case against him and five others on Tuesday for alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, they said. The agency booked Sisodia, a 1992-batch IRS officer Sukesh Kumar Jain who was then secretary of vigilance, retired CISF DIG Rakesh Kumar Sinha who was working as special advisor to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and joint director in the Feedback Unit, they said. Besides, former joint deputy director of Intelligence Bureau Pradeep Kumar

Will remove 5 mn MT garbage from Bhalswa landfill by March next year: CM

Delhi government's target is to remove 50 lakh metric tonnes of garbage from the Bhalswa landfill by March next year, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday during a visit to the site. Kejriwal, along with Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi, reviewed the progress of work to remove garbage from the landfill. "The target is to remove 50 lakh metric tonnes of garbage from here by March next year. Work is going on at double speed. Soon Delhi will be made garbage-free," he said. Kejriwal said that 11,000 MT (metric tonnes) of garbage is generated daily in Delhi and there are arrangements to deal with over 8,100 MT. "This means 2,800 MT of garbage is left. Expansion work is underway at Okhla to handle 1,000 MT of the garbage while the Bawana Waste To Energy Plant will be ready by 2026 to handle 2,000 MT of garbage," he said. The chief minister said 30 lakh MT of waste has been removed from the landfill since 2019 while 50 lakh MT is still lying there of which 30 lakh MT will be reduced

PM plans to slap false cases against Sisodia, keep him in custody: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to "slap several false cases" against AAP leader Manish Sisodia to keep him in jail for a long time. His comments came after the CBI registered an FIR against Sisodia and others in connection with the Delhi Government's Feedback Unit (FBU) which has been accused of doing political snooping. "PM's plan is to slap several false cases against Manish and keep him in custody for a long period. Sad for the country!" Kejriwal said in a tweet. The AAP dispensation had proposed setting up the Feedback Unit in 2015 to gather relevant information and actionable feedback regarding the working of the various departments and autonomous bodies, institutions and entities falling under the jurisdiction of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and also to do "trap cases", the CBI said. The unit started functioning in 2016 with a provision of Rs 1 crore for secret service expenditure,

Delhi CM formulates plan to ensure uninterrupted water supply this summer

The chief minister also brought up the challenges faced in acquiring land for sewage treatment plants (STPs), directing officials to resolve the issue expeditiously

Demanding Kejriwal's resignation, BJP to protest at Jantar Mantar on Mar 21

The BJP believes that Kejriwal should resign on the basis of morality, and if he does not do so, the BJP will force him to resign

AAP to contest polls in all 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh: Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that his party will contest the upcoming assembly elections in all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh

Kejriwal cannot escape responsibility for liquor scam under his govt: BJP

The BJP fired a fresh salvo at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, saying he cannot escape responsibility for the "liquor scam" under his government. Delhi BJP's working president Virendra Sachdeva said Kejriwal never cared to reply to the "grave questions" raised by the saffron party over the "liquor scam" and defended former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who is currently in jail in connection with a case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy for the national capital. Sachdeva asked Kejriwal why the wholesale liquor business in Delhi was handed over to private players, despite a technical committee's recommendation that it should be handled by the government. Why was the commission of wholesalers raised from 5 per cent to 12 per cent against the recommendation of the committee, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader asked. "Kejriwal is the mastermind of the liquor scam and he cannot escape the probe,"

Ashok Gehlot-Vasundhara Raje are good friends, says Kejriwal in Jaipur

In what could be seen as the AAP electoral entry into Rajasthan, a Tiranga Yatra was taken out in Jaipur in which AAP convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also participate

BJP stages sit-in at Rajghat, demands Kejriwal's resignation in liquor scam

BJP leaders on Monday staged a 'maun vrat (silent sit-in)' at Rajghat to press for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over the alleged liquor scam. Virendra Sachdeva, working president of the BJP's Delhi unit, Leader of Opposition in the assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and other party workers also prayed for good sense to prevail over the Kejriwal government during the protest at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial. The BJP has stepped up its attack on the Kejriwal government following the arrest of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in connection with alleged irregularities related to implementation of the now scrapped Excise Policy, 2021-22. The city government withdrew the policy last year after Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged violation of rules and lapses in its implementation.

Kejriwal, Mann to lead AAP's 'Tiranga Yatra' in Jaipur on Monday

On the eve of the party's "Tiranga Yatra" in Jaipur led by Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, AAP leader Vinay Mishra on Sunday said about four-and-a-half lakh people have become its members recently and that the party was optimistic about its performance in the coming assembly polls in Rajasthan. He said the party's chief ministers will sound the poll bugle in the state with the yatra and appealed to people to join it. After the "Tiranga Yatra" (tricolour rally) from Sanganeri Gate to Ajmeri Gate here, Delhi CM Kejriwal and Punjab CM Maan will address a gathering. Assembly elections in Rajasthan is scheduled for later this year. Mishra, the party's in-charge for Rajasthan, told a press conference, "I would like to appeal to people to connect with the yatra as it is important for Rajasthan where the BJP and the Congress formed governments alternately and worked to dupe people." Within 15-20 days of the party's membership drive, about four-and-a-half lakh people hav

AAP plans mega rally in Bhopal on Tuesday; Kejriwal, Mann to attend

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann will on Tuesday address a rally in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, where polls are to be held at the end of the year, with the Aam Aadmi Party working hard to mobilise a one-lakh crowd. The AAP hopes to make a mark in the politics of MP that so far has been centred around the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power for a dominant part of the last two decades, and the Congress. "We are working hard to ensure one lakh people attend our rally in BHEL Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal on Tuesday. After this, we are going to hold such big rallies in all the divisional headquarters in the state," former MP AAP chief Pankaj Singh told PTI. Singh said the AAP had made more than five lakh members since a drive was launched for this by the party's organisation general secretary Sandeep Pathak on February 4. Pathak, who is considered one of the main architects of the AAP's strategy in Punjab and Gujarat, has toured Bhopal

Attitude of ignoring crimes against women must end, says Arvind Kejriwal

The attitude of ignoring crimes against women has to end, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday as he exhorted men and boys to view ensuring the safety of women as their responsibility. Unless the society realises its responsibility and brings a change from within, all efforts to make Delhi safer for women will go in vain, he said. Kejriwal was speaking at a ceremony where he felicitated winners of the Delhi Commission for Women's (DCW) International Women's Day Awards. He said he was thrilled to present the awards, especially to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus drivers. "The Delhi government is committed to adding more and more women bus drivers to the DTC bus fleet," he said. He honoured 31 DTC women bus drivers. On making Delhi safer for women, the chief minister said the DCW and the government are facilitators of women's safety and empowerment, but the society's support is needed to achieve the goal fully. "As long as the society does not realise its responsi

Will not let it happen: Delhi CM hits back as LG asks to withdraw subsidy

In a fresh round of face-off between the ruling Aam Admi Party and the Delhi Governor, the Kejriwal-led govt has accused the latter of again violating the Constitution and Supreme Court directives

Delhi excise case: Court sends Manish Sisodia to ED custody till March 17

A city court on Friday sent former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, arrested in a money laundering case related to the excise policy, to the Enforcement Directorate's custody till March 17. Special judge M K Nagpal allowed the anti-money laundering probe agency to interrogate the senior AAP leader in custody. The ED had sought Sisodia's custody for 10 days. Earlier the court heard arguments of the ED and Sisodia's lawyers on the AAP leader's custody. There was heavy security presence within and outside the Rouse Avenue Courts. The lawyer for the federal anti-money laundering probe agency alleged Sisodia made false statements about the 'scam' and that it wanted to unearth the modus operandi of the perpetrators and confront him with the other accused. ED's counsel Zoheb Hossain also claimed before a special court that Sisodia destroyed his phone, an important piece of evidence in the investigation. The lawyer for the federal anti-money laundering probe agency alleged Sis

MCD to adopt Kejriwal model of education, transform schools: Shelly Oberoi

The MCD will build new schools and provide quality education to the children of Delhi on the lines of the Arvind Kejriwal government's education model, said Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Friday. Oberoi, accompanied by Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand, on Friday inspected the under-construction MCD school building in the Prem Nagar area of the Karol Bagh zone. The Mayor reviewed the construction and directed the officials to expedite the work so that the school building could be rendered to the public for use, said officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. With the construction of this school, residents, including those from the weaker section, of colonies such as Prem Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Baljeet Nagar, Punjabi Basti (Baljeet Nagar), West Patel Nagar, and Gayatri colony will be able to send their wards to schools in their vicinity, Oberoi said. "This school will run in two shifts and about 1,000 children will study in one shift. The school will have a computer room, librar

Excise policy scam: Delhi court to hear Manish Sisodia's bail plea today

A Delhi court is to hear on Friday the bail application of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the now-scrapped excise policy case

Atishi education minister, Saurabh Bharadwaj new health minister in Delhi

Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi were sworn in as ministers by Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on Thursday in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhur also attended the oath-taking ceremony. Atishi will handle education, PWD, power and tourism departments, while Bharadwaj will look after health, urban development, water and industries. Following the resignations of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and minister Satyendar Jain, both currently in Tihar jail in alleged corruption and money laundering cases, respectively, two Cabinet berths had fallen vacant. Sisodia was arrested by CBI on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. He is in judicial custody till March 20. Jain, who is also in judicial custody, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a case of alleged money laundering on May

Kejriwal pays tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat before starting pooja

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday offered tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat before starting his day-long pooja for the "betterment of the country". Kejriwal had on Tuesday said he will pray for the country on Holi as he claimed those doing good work are being arrested while those looting the country are getting away. Addressing a digital press conference, he had said he was worried about the state of affairs in the country. Delhi's health and education sectors were ignored for 65 years before Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain turned things around with their hard work and ensured quality education and healthcare to the poor, he had said. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "imprisoned those (Jain and Sisodia) doing good work for the country, while those looting it are being embraced", the chief minister had said. "I will meditate and pray on Holi for the betterment of the country. If you also feel the prime minister is not doing the right thing, you should als

Worried about country's sorry state of affairs, not Sisodia: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he will pray for the country on Holi as he claimed those doing good work are being arrested while those looting the country are getting away. Addressing a digital press conference, he said he was worried about the state of affairs in the country. "Everyone knows that government schools and hospitals are in a bad shape... But two people -- Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain -- who improved these government schools and hospitals are in jail," he said. The chief minister said it is worrisome that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has imprisoned those doing good work for the country, while those looting it are being embraced. "On Holi, I will meditate and pray for improving the sorry state of affairs in the country. If you also feel the prime minister is not doing the right thing, you should also pray for the country after celebrating the festival," he said. "I am not worried about Sisodia and Jain being in jail. They are brave people who