Page 118 - Arvind Kejriwal

Kejriwal on Gujarat visit today; plans to hold town hall meet in Vadodara

Aam Aadmi Party's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be on a day-long visit to Gujarat on Tuesday and will address a town hall meeting in Vadodara. The Assembly elections in BJP-ruled Gujarat are due later this year and the AAP leader has visited the state multiple times in the recent past to interact with people. On Tuesday, Kejriwal will hold a press conference before attending a town hall meeting to "give his message to the people of Gujarat," state AAP president Gopal Italia said. On Wednesday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will visit Ahmedabad and offer prayers at the Sabarmati Ashram before embarking on the party's campaign in north Gujarat, he said. Kejriwal had last week also held town hall meetings in Gujarat where he interacted with auto-rickshaw drivers, lawyers and other people. During his multiple visits to Gujarat in the recent past, Kejriwal had announced a slew of "guarantees", including free electricity up to 300 units per

AAP hits back after BJP's 'megalomaniac' jibe at Arvind Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday hit back at the BJP after it called Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a "megalomaniac", saying the saffron party should answer questions raised by the AAP chief rather than deploying what it called were diversionary tactics. "Idhar udhar ki baat na karein. (Don't deploy diversionary tactics. Answer the questions," the AAP's national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh told a press conference here, attacking the BJP. He alleged the BJP has "poached" 285 MLAs of other parties and toppled governments in different states under Operation Lotus' so far. "The BJP should tell the nation how much black money it spent on purchasing, kidnapping and breaking 285 MLAs away from their parties across the country," Singh said, asking shouldn't the "Operation Lotus be probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. The stinging reaction came after the BJP called Kejriwal a "megalomaniac" following his allegation AAP leaders were being targeted as the BJP

'Stop threatening media,' says Delhi CM Kejriwal to PM's media advisor

Addressing Aam Aadmi Party's first Rashtriya Janpratinidhi Sammelan here, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the Prime Minister's media advisor of threatening the media

BJP trying to 'crush' AAP in name of fighting corruption: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, accusing them of trying to "crush" the AAP in the name of fighting corruption as they feared a defeat in Gujarat polls. Addressing the first-ever national conclave of his party's elected representatives, Kejriwal also alleged that the Modi government has been trying to frame his party ministers and leaders in false corruption cases as the BJP is "not able to digest the growing popularity of the AAP in Gujarat". The BJP is so rattled by the AAP's growing influence ahead of Gujarat assembly elections that "the prime minister's advisor Hiren Joshi has warned several TV channels owners and their editors not to give coverage to AAP party in Gujarat, threatening them with dire consequences", the party's national convenor alleged. No immediate reaction to Kejriwal's charge was immediately available from the PMO or Joshi. "Stop doing things. If these editors share the ..

BJP continuing with 'Operation Lotus' to break Kejriwal-led party: AAP

The AAP on Saturday alleged that the arrest of its MLA Amanatullah Khan was part of BJP's efforts to poach Arvind Kejriwal-led party's legislators and topple its government in Delhi under "Operation Lotus". The Aam Aadmi Party legislator from Okhla was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Friday in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi Waqf Board recruitment, officials said. Khan is the chairman of Delhi Waqf Board. "Looks like they are suffering a lot in Gujarat," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi in an apparent attack on the BJP. He also anticipated the arrest of more MLAs of his party in the coming days. "First, they arrested (Delhi health minister) Satyendar Jain. They are not able to present any evidence despite the court repeatedly asking for it. Then, Manish's residence was raided, nothing was found there. Now, Amanatullah has been arrested. More MLAs will now be arrested," the AAP national convenor said in his tweet. Reacting to

Isn't Rahul Gandhi enough to weaken Congress, Kejriwal takes potshot

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday took a potshot at the Congress, saying Rahul Gandhi was "enough" to weaken it, rejecting allegations the AAP was acting as a B-team of the BJP and weakening the Congress. The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor also sought to maintain distance from the ongoing bid to form a grand opposition alliance to keep the BJP at bay in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Alliance politics should be left to those who are working on it, Kejriwal said, adding he did not understand it. The Delhi chief minister was replying to questions at a townhall event organised by NDTV. "Am I needed to weaken the Congress? Isn't Rahul Gandhi enough," he quipped when asked to comment on allegations levelled by political rivals that his AAP was weakening the Congress and acting as a B-team of the BJP to help the saffron party win elections. On the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' of the Congress, Kejriwal said, "Let them do it. Everyone should do good work. Best of luck (to ...

615,000 Delhiites opt in for power subsidy till Friday evening: Officials

On an average, more than 11,600 Delhiites have opted in for power subsidy per hour, filing application with the discoms, since the process was launched by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Around 6.15 lakh power consumers in Delhi had applied for the subsidy by 5.40 pm on Friday. These included 2,58,852 BRPL, 1,73,875 BYPL, 1,78,584 TPDDL and 2,351 NDMC consumers, they said. The chief minister, at a press conference on Wednesday, had said power consumers in Delhi will get subsidy from October 1 only if they demand it by submitting offline or online applications. He had launched a phone number 70113 11111 for consumers to give a missed call or send WhatsApp message to opt for the subsidy. In the first two days, up to 5.30 pm on Thursday, around 3.4 lakh consumers had applied for power subsidy. More than 90 per cent of 58 lakh power consumers in Delhi digitally pay their electricity bills. Presently, consumers having up to 200 units of monthly .

Kejriwal running university of lies: Delhi BJP on AAP's landfill sites plan

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is running a "university of lies", Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta alleged on Friday following AAP's claim that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was planning to create 16 more landfill sites here for dumping garbage. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal had earlier said the BJP wanted to convert Delhi into "a city of garbage mountains", and claimed that the MCD has plans to create 16 more garbage dumps in the city. The BJP, which ruled the three municipal corporations for nearly 15 years, hit back and accused Kejriwal and his MLAs of spreading lies. The three municipal corporations whose term ended in May this year were unified by the Centre. The AAP and the BJP have been engaged in a verbal dual over the issue since then. Kejriwal said people living near the three existing landfill sites were already facing problems, including stench and unhygienic conditions, and added that people were totally against any more garbage dumps here. Several AAP leade

Delhi liquor policy case: ED conducts fresh raids at 40 locations

The ED on Friday launched fresh raids at about 40 locations across the country as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy, official sources said. The searches are being conducted at premises linked to liquor businessmen, distributors and supply chain networks in Nellore and some other cities in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi-NCR, they said. The action started early morning with agency teams being escorted by police and paramilitary personnel at the locations being searched by them. This is the second round of raids by the federal agency in this case after it first conducted searches on September 6 at about 40 locations across the country including that of some Punjab government excise department officers. The policy implemented from November 17, 2021 was scrapped by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal government in July this year following a CBI probe recommended by Delhi LG V K Saxena into

Centre should do good things instead of harassing people with CBI: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he has failed to understand what the liquor scam was about, and advised the Centre to do positive things for progress of the country instead of "harassing" everyone with CBI and ED. His remarks came amid raids by the Enforcement Directorate at 40 locations across the country in connection with alleged irregularities in implementation of Excise Policy 2021-22 of the AAP government in Delhi. "I have till date not been able to understand what this liquor scam is. One of their (BJP) leaders said it is a scam of Rs 1.5 lakh crore. How can it be a scam of Rs 1.5 lakh crore when the whole budget of Delhi is Rs 70,000 crore only? "Another of their leaders said it was a Rs 8,000 crore scam, yet another said it was a Rs 1,100 crore scam. The L-G said it was a Rs 144 crore scam, while the CBI said it was a Rs 1 crore scam," Kejriwal said in a press conference. He said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during its raid at his deputy .

Delhi govt offers power subsidy opt-out amid dwindling liquor revenue

AAP says enough money to pay subsidy, only giving an option to those who don't want it and the move would expose "double talk" of BJP

Delhi makes power subsidy optional: Know how to apply for it here

Under the current Delhi power subsidy rules, the power consumption of less than 200 units attracts a zero bill and, a subsidy of 50 per cent on the bill is given on a total of 400 units

AAP in Punjab will fully support Agnipath scheme: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the AAP government in Punjab will "fully support" the Agnipath Scheme during the recruitment drives of Agniveers. Kejriwal's clarification came after reports that the Punjab government was not supportive of the recruitment drive. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had earlier criticised the Agnipath Scheme and appealed to the central government to give defence job aspirants the chance to serve the country throughout their life, not just four years. "We had differences with the Centre on Agnipath Scheme but since the Centre has implemented it we will support it fully. We will completely cooperate with the scheme and the army," Kejriwal said while replying to a question in his first offline press conference since the formation of the AAP government in Delhi in February 2020. Later, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann clarified that directions have been given for "complete support" on the Agnipath scheme. "All deputy commissioners w

Delhi consumers can avail of power subsidy from today via missed call: CM

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said online and offline methods will be made available to consumers to opt for power subsidy from Wednesday. At a press conference here, he said power consumers in Delhi can give a missed call on 7011311111 to opt for the subsidy from today. Kejriwal said many people wanted to give up power subsidy in Delhi. Those who want to avail subsidy will get a form that they can fill to apply. They can also give a missed call on 7011311111 whereby they will get a form on WhatsApp that they can fill up to apply for subsidy. Those applying for subsidy till October 31 will be paid subsidy of the month. Every month people can apply for subsidy, he added. Kejriwal also claimed that the BJP approached 10 MLAs of the AAP government in Punjab and alleged it was buying MLAs and breaking governments. The ruling AAP in Punjab on Tuesday accused the BJP of offering Rs 20-25 crore each to its MLAs in an attempt to topple the Bhagwant Mann government in the state. The Punj

Kejriwal accepts Ahmedabad auto driver's dinner invite; BJP calls him actor

Before heading for dinner, Kejriwal had a heated argument with some police officials outside a five-star hotel where he is staying over security protocols

Kejriwal to hold town hall meeting with rickshaw drivers in Gujarat today

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will interact with auto-rickshaw drivers, businessmen and lawyers in three different town hall meetings in Ahmedabad on Monday, ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls due later this year. Aam Aadmi Party's national convener Kejriwal reached Ahmedabad on Sunday evening to attend various public programmes and meet local party leaders on Monday and Tuesday as part of the AAP's election campaign in BJP-ruled Gujarat. As per the schedule shared by the Gujarat AAP unit, Kejriwal will participate in three town hall meets here on Monday where he will interact with auto-rickshaw drivers, businessmen, and lawyers. On Tuesday, Kejriwal will hold another town hall meet with sanitation workers. He will also hold discussions with local AAP leaders and workers and welcome new members to the party in Ahmedabad. He will also announce an "important guarantee" for the people of Gujarat, as per the party. Kejriwal on Sunday said his next "guarantee" to the people of

Aam Aadmi Party office raided in Ahmedabad following Kejriwal's arrival

Police conducted a raid at the AAP office in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the party said while claiming that the ruling BJP is "extremely rattled" by the "immense support" it is getting in the run-up to the Gujarat Assembly polls. Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Gujarat unit said on Twitter that the raid was carried out soon after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Ahmedabad. Reacting to the development, Kejriwal said the Gujarat police found nothing at the party office as the leaders and workers of the AAP are "hardcore honest". There was no immediate response from the Gujarat Police to the AAP's claim. "The BJP is extremely rattled by the immense support that the AAP is getting from the people of Gujarat. There is a storm in favour of the AAP in Gujarat," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "Raids have started in Gujarat too after Delhi. Nothing was found in Delhi, nothing was found in Gujarat too. We are hardcore honest and patriotic people," he added. The AAP natio

CBI to probe AAP govt for 'irregularities' in purchase of 1,000 buses

Delhi LG V K Saxena has approved a proposal to forward a complaint to the CBI to probe the alleged corruption in the procurement of 1,000 low-floor buses by the DTC, official sources said on Saturday. A complaint addressed to Saxena in June this year had highlighted the appointment of the Minister of Transport as the chairman of the committee for tendering and procurement of buses by DTC in a premeditated manner. It had also claimed that the appointment of DIMTS as bid management consultant for this tender was done with an aim to facilitate wrongdoing. The complaint had alleged irregularities in a July 2019 procurement bid for 1,000 low floor BS-IV and BS-VI buses, and another bid made in March 2020 for the purchase and annual maintenance contract for low floor BS-VI buses, the sources said. The complaint was forwarded to the Chief Secretary on July 22 to seek comments from the departments of the Delhi government and consequently their recommendations. The report, which was submit

Gujarat asking for change, Sisodia to soon take out march here: Kejriwal

Gujarat is asking for change and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia will soon take out a march in the BJP-ruled state to fulfil the demand of people, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday. The AAP national convenor, however, did not mention in his post when his deputy Sisodia will visit Gujarat to take out a march of his party for change in the state. "Gujarat is asking for change. Soon, Manish Sisodia ji will take out a march in Gujarat," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "Just need change now", he added. Responding to Kejriwal's tweet, the AAP's Gujarat unit chief Gopal Italia welcomed Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, ahead of his visit and appealed to the people of the state to bring "change" by voting for the Kejriwal-led party in the upcoming assembly polls "on the issue of education, health, electricity and employment". "Welcome to Gujarat, Manish Sisodia--the hero of the revolution brought in the education sector in Delhi," Italia sa

Kejriwal promises to regularise temporary employees in AAP-won states

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appreciated the AAP-led Punjab government for regularising 8,736 school teachers, and urged all state governments to do the same. He said the Delhi government had also brought in a Bill in the Assembly to regularise guest teachers in the national capital but the Centre did not approve it. Kejriwal said all contractual government employees would be regularised in the states where the AAP comes to power. All the states and the Centre should also do this, he added. "At a time when permanent government jobs are being reduced and more temporary employees are being hired, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regularised the services of 8,736 teachers. This will prove to be an example for others too," Kejriwal said. He stressed that the education revolution in Delhi was brought about by the efforts of guest and regular teachers, and said the notion that permanent employees were shirkers was wrong. "Our regular hospital staff did wonders in