Page 21 - Arvind Kejriwal

Kailash Gahlot quits AAP, joins BJP: Is everything fine in the Aam Aadmi Party?

Former AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot has resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party and joined BJP. Watch the video to know what's happening.

Kailash Gahlot quits AAP ahead of Delhi polls, flags 'grave challenges'

In a setback to the AAP ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, its senior leader and city Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot quit the party on Sunday. In his resignation letter to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal, the 50-year-old pointed to the "grave challenges" facing the party Gahlot, a prominent figure in the party, also took a jab at Kejriwal while flagging some "awkward" and "embarrassing" controversies like 'sheeshmahal', saying it makes everyone doubt if "we still believe in being the 'Aam Aadmi'". Gahlot's reference to the 'sheeshmahal' controversy comes against the backdrop of BJP leaders' charge that Kejriwal spent crores on lavish items and modern facilities at his former official residence at 6 Flagstaff Road. The BJP had dubbed Kejriwal's earlier residence as 'sheeshmahal'. Gahlot, the MLA from Najafgarh, tendered his resignation from the council of ministers with immediate effect. Official sources said the resignation was accepted by Delhi Chief Minister ...

AAP govt to set up new model of law and order in Punjab, says Kejriwal

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said his party's government in Punjab will set up a new model of law and order in the state and called the Punjab Police as the "most disciplined" force. Kejriwal lauded the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab for improving the law and situation in the state but asserted that still a lot needs to be done. The AAP national convener was addressing a gathering during an event to handover appointment letters to newly recruited employees in the Punjab Police department. He was flanked by Chief Minister Mann at the event. The former Delhi chief minister said a total of 8,705 jobs have been given in the Punjab Police department in the past two and a half years in the state. "I am not saying it because it is our government in Punjab. But it is true that Punjab Police is the country's most disciplined, strict and most celebrated police force," he said. Referring to the previous governments, Kejriwal said before his party formed the governmen

Excise policy: HC asks ED to respond to Kejriwal's plea challenging summons

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response of the Enforcement Directorate on a plea by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal challenging summons issued to him on the agency's complaint in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri refused to stay the trial in the criminal case and said the trial court's order, which has been challenged by Kejriwal, is two months old and not a fresh order. The high court issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the petition which has challenged the summons issued to the former chief minister of Delhi on the complaint filed by the agency in the case. Kejrwal's counsel questioned the maintainability of the complaint on the grounds that while summons was issued by one officer, the complaint was filed by another officer. The former Delhi chief minister has challenged a sessions court's September 17 order which had dismissed his plea challenging the summons. The ED's counsel raised preliminary objection on

Swati Maliwal case: Bhibhav moves court against chargesheet cognisance

Former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar has challenged before a Delhi court an order that took cognisance of the police's charge sheet against him for allegedly assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Kumar is accused of assaulting Maliwal at the chief minister's official residence on May 13 and is currently on bail. A magistrate court took cognisance of the charge sheet against him on July 30. October 29, Kumar's counsel Manish Baidwan filed the revision plea in a Tis Hazari sessions court arguing cognisance was taken in a "mechanical manner" under the repealed criminal procedure code instead of the new Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). It said, "Cognisance requires consideration whether there is sufficient ground for proceeding further for taking action under subsequent provisions of the new BNSS, which is missing in the present case." The plea further claimed discrepancies on various grounds, including the final report being "defective". "It is important to .

Swati Maliwal case: Court seeks Bibhav Kumar's reply to Delhi police

Magistrate court on October 22, had directed Delhi police to file a list of the statements and documents/material objects seized but not relied on by them and supply a copy thereof to the accused

Kejriwal terms AAP's work in education as sapling, warns against trampling

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday described the achievements of his party's government here in the education sector as planting a "small sapling" and claimed its "trampling" would erase any future for poor children's education. Interacting with parents of children studying in Delhi government-run schools as part of the AAP's 'Shiksha Par Baat, Maata Pita Ke Saath' programme here, he claimed that before the party came to power, the city's government schools were in "deplorable conditions, often operating out of tin sheds and tents". According to a statement from the AAP, the parents attending the event expressed their gratitude to Kejriwal for "revolutionising" the education system in Delhi. Addressing the meeting, Kejriwal sought the parents' opinion about the education system and said, "What we have achieved in the education sector in Delhi is just a small sapling. Its trampling would erase any future for poor children's education in this country." Referring to the time before

AAP ramps up grassroots efforts with padyatras and booth committees

The strategic combination of padyatras, committee formations, and the upcoming convention is part of AAP's broader strategy to consolidate its ground-level support and ensure a strong presence

BJP slams AAP MLA over alleged 'roads like Hema Malini's cheeks' remark

The BJP in Delhi on Monday attacked Uttam Nagar MLA Naresh Balyan over his alleged "roads like Hema Malini's cheeks" remark and demanded that AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal should expel the legislator for disrespecting women. Actor-turned-politician Malini, a senior BJP leader, is a Lok Sabha MP from Mathura. The BJP was reacting to a video clip that has surfaced on social media in which the MLA is heard purportedly saying, "All works will be completed swiftly by the 35th of the month, will make Uttam Nagar's roads like Hema Malini's cheeks." No reaction was immediately available from Balyan when contacted on his phone. The AAP too did not respond on the issue. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor charged that Balyan has not only disrespected women but has also humiliated the people of the area by saying that roads will be repaired by the "35th" of the month. Kapoor added that the incident has established that the entire Aam Aadmi Party is "anti-women". "They are inspired b

Court asks ED to supply chargesheet to accused in Delhi excise policy case

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to carry out the exercise by November 13, when the matter would be heard next

Need support to defeat BJP, ensure 'good work' continues in Delhi: Kejriwal

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he needed the support of the people to defeat the BJP and ensure that the "good work" continued in Delhi. The former chief minister resumed his 'padyatra' following a break for the festivals and urged the people of Delhi to vote for AAP in the assembly elections while accusing the BJP of halting development work. "I need your support to defeat the BJP and keep the good work going in the city because I cannot do it alone. The BJP will stop all the work if it comes into power as it cannot match the facilities (being provided in Delhi) in states where it is already in power," he claimed. There was no immediate response from the BJP on the claims. AAP leaders are undertaking 'padyatras (foot marches)' in different assembly segments in the run-up to the polls, due in February. Kejriwal, who undertook a march in west Delhi's Rajouri Garden area, reiterated his promise to waive "inflated" water and electricity bills if he returns to power. "Mak

BJP files writ petition against AAP for not implementing Ayushman Bharat

The Delhi BJP MPs have filed a writ petition in the High Court against the AAP government's decision to not implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in Delhi, state president Virendra Sachdeva said on Wednesday. In a press conference, Sachdeva slammed the AAP and its convener Arvind Kejriwal for depriving lakhs of eligible people in Delhi of the Centre's health insurance scheme. Addressing the issue in a press conference earlier in the day, Kejriwal alleged that the Ayushman Bharat scheme is riddled with scams according to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). He also said the scheme does not require to be implemented in the national capital as health services here are provided free of cost by his government. "This is not my opinion, this is what the CAG says; there are many scams in the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. Treatment under this scheme will only happen when the patient is hospitalised, but there are no conditions regarding hospitalisation in Delhi," ..

Kejriwal hails early Diwali pay for Delhi sanitation staff, first in 18 yrs

The AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that earlier salaries would be withheld for seven to eight months

Not right to do politics on public health issue: Kejriwal to PM Modi

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing politics over the issue of public health in the national capital. Kejriwal's remarks came after Prime Minister Modi criticised the Delhi and West Bengal governments for failing to implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme out of "political interests". Modi said he was disappointed with the state of free healthcare for the elderly in the two states and called it a missed opportunity to serve the senior citizens. Addressing a public gathering at New Delhi's All India Institute of Ayurveda, Modi said, "I apologise to all the elderly aged above 70 years in Delhi and West Bengal. I hear your pain, but due to the state governments' decisions, I cannot help you." Reacting to Modi's allegations, Kejriwal said speaking wrongly about the issue of public health and indulging in politics on it is not right. In a long post on X, Kejriwal said PM Modi should study the Delhi model of healthcare and

Kejriwal says AAP 'honestly' served Delhi, urges people to reject BJP

The AAP government "honestly" served the people of Delhi for 10 years, doing a lot of the work that no other dispensation in the country had done, party chief Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. The former Delhi chief minister, who was taking part in a 'padyatra (foot march)' campaign ahead of the assembly polls, also asked the public not to vote for the BJP. He claimed that the saffron party, if it assumed power in Delhi, would stop the city government's free schemes for electricity, health care, education and bus rides for women. Kejriwal also promised that he would waive "inflated" water bills, urging the people to vote for AAP and help him become chief minister again. "The elections are due in February. I will get these ('inflated' water) bills waived in March," he said. AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Atishi, Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, among others, have been taking part in foot matches across Delhi under its 'padyatra' campaign ahead of the polls.

What steps they have taken to reduce pollution in Delhi: BJP MP slams AAP

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal asked Arvind Kejriwal what steps have they taken to reduce pollution in Delhi as their party has been in power for last ten years

Assam bypolls: AAP announces 40 star campaigners from Kejriwal to Atishi

Meanwhile, a total of 38 candidates have filed their nomination papers for five assembly constituencies in Assam to be contested for the by-elections

Kejriwal accuses BJP of orchestrating attack, dares them to contest polls

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the BJP of orchestrating the "attack" on him during his 'padyatra' in west Delhi's Vikaspuri a day ago and challenged the saffron party to prove its strength by contesting the assembly polls. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed Arvind Kejriwal was allegedly attacked by "BJP goons" during his 'padyatra' campaign on Friday. Reiterating AAP's claims, Kejriwal told a gathering at Badli in northwest Delhi, "Yesterday, they (BJP) attacked me using their goons in Vikaspuri." "Do you want to kill me? If you have the strength, contest the elections," he said, attacking the saffron party. The AAP supremo further urged the voters to not vote for the saffron party, claiming that the BJP will shut down all the free schemes provided by him. "If you vote for the BJP by mistake, they will shut down your children's schools and start sending you electricity bills of Rs 10,000. The people of Delhi have to decide whether they want to vote for those w

'Conspiracy' to kill Kejriwal, BJP responsible if anything happens: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday alleged a "deep conspiracy" to eliminate its convener Arvind Kejriwal and warned that the BJP will be responsible if anything happens to him. AAP leaders on Friday claimed Kejriwal was attacked by "BJP goons" during his 'padyatra' campaign in west Delhi's Vikaspuri. In a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh charged, "Police complicity in the incident clearly shows a deep conspiracy to kill Kejriwal. The BJP has become an enemy of his life." No immediate reaction was available from the police or the BJP over Singh's allegations. The AAP leader, however, said that despite the Vikaspuri incident, Kejriwal will continue to undertake 'padyatra' campaign as per the schedule. When asked why the AAP has not filed any complaint in the incident, Singh said that the incident wouldn't have happened if the police were "impartial" and its officers did not do anything to stop the group of attackers who, he said, belonged to the BJP's youth wing.

Kejriwal likely to campaign for INDIA bloc in Maharashtra, Jharkhand polls

Arvind Kejriwal is likely to campaign on assembly seats where AAP has a volunteer base and where the MVA candidates don't have a controversial background