Page 85 - Arvind Kejriwal

Modi govt looted India more than Britishers did in 250 yrs: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged the amount of "loot" by the Narendra Modi government in the last nine years surpassed the loot of India committed by Britishers in 250 years during their rule. Addressing a public rally at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, where Assembly elections are due by this year-end, Kejriwal also targeted the Congress for "looting" the country over 75 years. He appealed to people to vote Aam Aadmi Party to power to rid Chhattisgarh of corruption. Modi ji became angry at me saying I am distributing 'revdis' (welfare sops) in Delhi. Yes, Modi ji I am distributing. But your people are looting revdis and taking it to their homesWhy are you worried when I am putting revdi in the hands of poor?" Kejriwal asked. He alleged the prices of essential commodities are touching the sky. "Vegetables, milk, flour everything became costly. Have you (people) ever thought about why prices are rising? Modi ji has slapped so much tax which was unprecedented after .

'Widespread inflation everywhere', Delhi CM attacks PM Modi in MP

Aam Admi national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday hit out at PM Modi and the ruling BJP over inflation, blaming him for the rise in the prices of essential food grains

Kejriwal attacks PM Modi over price rise, says 'open' loot going on

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday attacked Prime Minister over price rise, saying it was the result of the "open" loot going on in the country. Addressing a rally in Gwalior of Madhya Pradesh, where Assembly elections are due by the year-end, he also narrated the story of a fourth class pass king whom he said God unseated. Incidentally, Modi was addressing a function in the Shahdol district of the state at the time. Modiji got too angry with me as I have given seven revdis' (freebies) in Delhi free electricity for 24 hours, free schooling, free health care, free water, free bus travel to women, free pilgrimage facility to old people and employment to youth, he said. The Aam Aadmi Party convener blamed Modi for price rise while crediting himself for bringing smiles on the faces of people with revdis. The state exchequer is being looted. A loan of Rs 34,000 crore to a friend of his has been waived in Mumbai, Rs 22,000-crore loan of a man from Gujarat has also been ..

Delhi Cong prez seeks time with CM Kejriwal to discuss power tarrif hike

Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary has written a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and sought time to discuss the issue of hike in power tariff in the national capital. "A delegation of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee would like to meet you to apprise you of the concerns of Delhiites, who are troubled by the increase in electricity bills by your government in Delhi," the letter read. "We hope that considering the seriousness of the situation, you will meet the delegation of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (on Sunday or Monday)," it added. Earlier, the Delhi Congress had also staged a demonstration against the AAP government in Delhi over a hike in power tariffs. The monthly electricity bills of the majority of domestic consumers in Delhi who use more than 200 and up to 600 units will be hiked by up to Rs 265 due to an increase in the power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC) levied by discoms, officials said earlier. The hike in the PPAC surcharge by the discoms wa

Improving Delhi's air quality has been most difficult task: CM Kejriwal

A day after the Environment Ministry said Delhi registered the highest number of 'good to moderate' air quality days this year since 2016, barring 2020, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday said improving air quality in the city has been the most difficult task. Delhi also experienced the least number of days with 'poor to severe' air quality in the first half-year period (January to June) in 2023, compared to the corresponding period since 2016, except for COVID-19 affected 2020. "This was perhaps the most difficult task -- improving air quality. But a series of steps taken by Delhiites helped us achieve this seemingly impossible task. Still a long way to go. But Delhi people have always done what others thought impossible," Kejriwal said in a tweet. The average AQI (air quality index) for Delhi during this period also remained in 'moderate' category -- below 200. Delhi reported its lowest average AQI during 2023 (JanuaryJune) compared to the corresponding period for the seven .

Delhi govt moves to Supreme Court against Centre's services ordinance

The Delhi government on Friday moved the Supreme Court against the Centre's ordinance over control of services in the national capital, officials said. Earlier in the day, the AAP had announced that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will burn copies of the Centre's ordinance at the party office in central Delhi on July 3. The party had on June 11 organised a maha-rally against the ordinance. The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of IAS and DANICS officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a circumvention of the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi, excluding police, public order and land, to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Del

Kejriwal holds review meeting with DJB officials over clean water supply

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday held a review meeting with officials of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and instructed that there should be "no shortage of money" to supply clean water. During the meeting, it was decided that the DJB will end the problem of dirty water in a few areas, use modern technology to find out pipeline leakage issues and solve it permanently. "Arvind Kejriwal held a regular review meeting with the Delhi Jal Board today and discussed about the detailed plan for ending the problem of dirty water in some of the areas. DJB officials said that to end the problem, they will use modern technology like helium gas and cameras to identify the pipeline leakage and find a permanent solution to it," the chief minister's office tweeted. He said that there should be "no shortage of money" to supply clean water to the people of Delhi. The chief minister directed DJB chairperson and minister Saurabh Bharadwaj that the issue of dirty water should be resolved at the

Don't insult hard-working people of Delhi: Kejriwal to LG on freebies

Hitting out at Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena over his remarks on "freebies", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked him not to "insult" the "hard-working people" of the national capital. On Wednesday, Saxena said people of Delhi are now "used to freebies" at an event titled 'Delhi 2041 - New Master Plan' organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Saxena's remarks seem to be directed at the Aam Aadmi Party government's subsidies, primarily on water and electricity. Reacting to Saxena's remarks, Kejriwal said Saxena was an outsider and did not understand the people of Delhi. "The people of Delhi are hardworking. They have beautified Delhi by their hard work. LG sir, you have come from outside and you do not understand Delhi and Delhiites. Don't insult the people of Delhi like this," he said in a tweet in Hindi. The chief minister also said the Delhi government, unlike others, does not indulge in "theft". "We save money and provide facilities to people. What is your .

Kejriwal rejects posting of edu deptt official mired in vigilance inquiries

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday rejected the appointment of some officials in the Education department citing ongoing vigilance inquiries against them, officials said. The CM deliberated with officials on several matters related to appointments in the second meet of the National Capital Civil Service Authority. In another matter, there was a proposal to remove some "good" officials from the Education department, but the CM objected to it and stopped it from getting passed, they said.

Delhi Motor Aggregator Scheme could adversely impact gig workers: IAMAI

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on Wednesday said the implementation of the Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme by the city government could adversely impact the livelihoods of countless gig workers across the national capital. The scheme was approved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month. Mandatory panic buttons in taxis, integration with emergency response number '112', and phase-wise transition to electric vehicles (EV) are some of the highlights of the scheme to regulate cab aggregators and delivery service providers in the national capital. The IAMAI, a not-for-profit industry body representing the digital services industry with over 500 Indian and multinational corporations as its members, said it supports the development of the country's electric vehicle (EV) industry and recognises the importance of pragmatic policies that systematically target environmental issues. "However, it is crucial to acknowledge the presen

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.

Delhi L-G writes to CM Kejriwal asking for swearing-in of new DERC chairman

The letter from the governor stated that the president appointed Justice Kumar as Chairperson DERC in accordance with the extant statutory provision through a notification

CAG audit of Kejriwal's residence will expose AAP's corruption: Delhi BJP

The Delhi BJP on Wednesday welcomed the CAG audit into alleged irregularities in the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence, saying it will expose the "corruption" of the AAP government. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is country's topmost audit body of high repute and its inquiry will soon reveal under whose "pressure" the officials "violated" laws and constructed the "palatial bungalow" for the chief minister otherwise eligible for only a 'Type VII' bungalow, said Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva. "The CAG must bring out the fact as to how repeated amounts were approved for the bungalow by the Kejriwal government whose ownership title was not clear and relevant authorities like Delhi Urban Arts Commission and Municipal Corporation of Delhi had rejected PWD sanction plan approval requests," he claimed welcoming the audit. Party MP Manoj Tiwari said earlier Kejriwal used to carry CAG reports levelling allegations of corruption against opposition

Delhi has become India's electric vehicle capital: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the cost of using electric vehicles in Delhi is the minimum across the country, while stressing that the city has become the nation's "EV capital". Kejriwal inaugurated 42 new ultra-low-cost EV charging stations at an event at GTB Nagar. The chief minister said with the addition of these 42 facilities, Delhi now has a total of 53 ultra-low-cost EV charging stations. With an increase in the number of EVs in the national capital in the recent years, air pollution has also been on the decline, he pointed out. "Data shows that compared to 2014, the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 are lower by 30 per cent. Earlier in the year, we had several days where the AQI (Air Quality Index) was in the severe category. These were days with very high pollution levels. But now, there are hardly any such day," Kejriwal said. He said besides curbing air pollution, the EV policy was formulated by the city government as the "future belongs to electric vehicles".

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

BJP legislators protest near Kejriwal's residence over power tariff hike

Delhi BJP legislators on Tuesday staged a sit-in near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in the Civil Lines area over hike in the electricity tariff in the city. Power tariff has been increased three times from what it was before 2014, said led Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who led the protest. Electricity distribution companies here have increased the power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC) by upto more than nine per cent following approval of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, DERC, which would result in a hike in the monthly bills of consumers not getting subsidy. The BJP will continue to protest against the PPAC hike unless it is reversed by Kejriwal government, Bidhuri said. "Why Kejriwal who frequently calls special sessions of the Assembly on different issues is not convening a special session now to discuss the electricity rates?" a protesting BJP MLA asked, with many echoing this. The Aam Aadmi Party government always claims th

'Jungle raj' in Delhi, people feeling unsafe, alleges CM; Lekhi hits back

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday targeted the Centre and the Lt Governor over Delhi's law-and-order situation following a robbery inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel, claiming "jungle raj" was prevailing in a city gearing up for the G20 Summit. He asserted that if the AAP government is given the charge of law and order, it will make Delhi the "safest city" in the country. Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi hit back, claiming that Kejriwal wants control over the city's law and order "to protect his corrupt ministers and MLAs". A delivery agent and his associate were allegedly robbed of Rs 2 lakh at gunpoint by four motorcycle-borne men inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel. Five people have so far been arrested in connection with the Saturday incident. Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event to inaugurate new electric vehicle charging stations, Kejriwal said, "It seems that the Centre does not have a solid plan to improve the law-and-order situation in Delhi. "Some men ..

CAG to conduct audit into 'irregularities' in Delhi CM residence renovation

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India will conduct a special audit into alleged "irregularities and violations" in the "reconstruction" of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, Raj Niwas officials said on Tuesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs had recommended the special CAG audit after taking note of a letter it received on May 24, officials at Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena's office said. The letter was received from the LG office and it pointed out "gross and prima facie financial irregularities" in the "reconstruction" of the chief minister's official residence, they claimed. No immediate reaction was available from the CM's office or the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

Coaching centre fire: ABVP protests near Kejriwal's home over negligence

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists protested near the official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday accusing his government of being "negligent" in implementing fire safety measures at coaching centres of the city. A fire had broken out at a building housing coaching institutes in northwest Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar area on June 15. Students of coaching institutes smash windows, climbed down ropes and took the help of ladders in desperate attempts to escape the blaze. The ABVP activists staging the protest in north Delhi's Civil Lines area accused the AAP government of being "anti-students" and blamed it for "negligence" in fire safety measures across the coaching hubs in the national capital. They also demanded compensation for those injured in the Mukherjee Nagar fire incident. The agitators said that security personnel were deployed at the protest site in large numbers and extra barricades were placed there. "There has been negligence on the part of