Page 92 - Arvind Kejriwal

App-based bus service scheme being sent to LG for approval, says Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said his government is sending a scheme for introducing premium buses on Delhi roads through private aggregators for Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena's approval. He said he hoped the scheme will be approved. "Following the LG's approval, we will share the policy online for seeking public feedback," the chief minister said at a press conference. Kejriwal said the buses, which will be equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons and will be air conditioned, will encourage the middle and upper middle classes to use public transport. "The policy stipulates that no bus older than three years will be used by aggregators. Buses purchased after January 1, 2024 will be electric. The seats in the buses will be booked through an app," he said. The booking prices for these buses will be higher than those of DTC tickets and in accordance with the market. Hence, there will be no provision for free travel for women, he added. Kejriwal said there is a large nu

4 Delhi students to be evacuated from state: Kejriwal to Manipur CM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he spoke to his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh regarding the evacuation of four students from the national capital who are stuck in the violence-hit state. Kejriwal said Singh assured him that the students would be provided all necessary help. Manipur witnessed violent clashes last week over a move to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Metei community in the state. The clashes broke out after Naga and Kuki tribals, who are opposing this plan, organised a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said four students from Delhi are in Manipur and they will be evacuated on Tuesday. "There are four students from Delhi in Manipur. They are safe. They will be evacuated tomorrow as no flight is available today. I will also talk to the Manipur CM," he said. Later, taking to Twitter, the chief minister said, "Spoke to Hon'ble CM, Manipur. He was v(ery) cordial and has assured all help to our .

Excise policy case desperate attempt by BJP to malign AAP: Kejriwal

The excise policy case is a desperate attempt by the BJP to "malign an honest party like the AAP", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday. His remarks came after a Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to two accused in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The court said the evidence against the accused, Rajesh Joshi and Gautam Malhotra, was not sufficient for the case against them to be considered prima facie "genuine". In a tweet, Kejriwal said, "The whole liquor scam is false. We were saying it from beginning. Now even courts have started saying it. It's a desperate measure by BJP to malign an honest party like AAP." Reacting to the court order, the AAP had said on Saturday that it showed that the entire case is "bogus", and asked the BJP to tender an apology for levelling false allegations. The BJP, however,

Punjab scaling new heights of development under AAP govt: Kejriwal

Punjab was scaling new "heights of development" under the Bhagwant Mann government, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday as he sought votes for his party's candidate for the May 10 Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. Addressing a roadshow along with Chief Minister Mann on the second day of his visit to Punjab, Kejriwal also referred to the 300 units of free electricity being provided to people in the state. The Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary in January. AAP has fielded former MLA Sushil Rinku for the contest. Campaigning in Shahkot, Kejriwal told people that they have voted for the Congress for 60 years and asked them to give AAP a chance now, saying if they do not like his party's work, then "do not vote for us in the 2024 general elections". Praising the AAP dispensation for the work done in Punjab in the last year, Kejriwal claimed several people have told him that they have not seen such a governme

Not Rs 45 cr, but Rs 171 cr spent on Kejriwal's 'palace', alleges Congress

The Congress on Sunday alleged that the amount spent on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence was Rs 171 crore and not Rs 45 crore reported earlier as his government had to buy additional flats for officers whose houses had to be either demolished or vacated for the expansion of the CM's residential complex. Accusing Kejriwal of faking a simple lifestyle and instead spending crores on his residence, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken said that in contrast to this, the epitome of simplicity in Delhi was his party leader and former chief minister Sheila Dikshit. "The amount spent by the whole cabinet of Sheila Dikshit on their homes in 15 years of its rule is no match to the amount spent by Arvind Kejriwal on the renovation of his palace," Maken alleged. He alleged the amount spent on Kejriwal's residence was not Rs 45 crore but Rs 171 crore and that too during the time of the Covid pandemic when people were running around for hospital beds and for the lack of oxygen. "I wi

Delhi BJP launches 'Jhootha Kahin Ka' campaign against AAP's Kejriwal

The Delhi BJP flagged off 14 special vans on Saturday under its "Jhootha Kahin Ka" campaign against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said these vehicles will travel across the city and show a 27-minute video on the "lies and U-turns" of the AAP chief in the last eight years. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the vans will visit 4,200 places over the next four weeks. The BJP has renewed its attack on the AAP, alleging a "scam" in the renovation of Kejriwal's official residence 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines at a cost of Rs 45 crore. It has alleged that expenditure under various heads was deliberately kept below Rs 10 crore to bypass the lieutenant governor's scrutiny. It has demanded Kejriwal's resignation and asked him to open his residence to people to let them see what lied inside. The AAP has accused the BJP of raising this matter to divert attention from key issues. It has also cited the expenses on residences of the prime minister and the chief ministers of t

Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal has transformed into Sultan of Delhi: BJP

The BJP on Friday alleged AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has transformed from a "common man" to the "Sultan of Delhi" with his Rs 45 crore house makeover. The party also deferred an indefinite protest it had earlier announced it will hold outside the Chief Minister's house over the allegations that he spent the inordinate sum on the renovation of his official residence. No reaction was immediately available from the Aam Aadmi Party over the BJP's protest and charges on Kejriwal. Kejriwal should open the door of his "palace" to the people of Delhi, otherwise the door of law will open for him, said Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, as she alleged that Kejriwal renovated his 6-Flagstaff Road house in Civil Lines area without proper permission. BJP had announced the dharna to open the doors of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's "Raj Mahal" for the public to see what was there, but now that a TV channel has shown the inside of the bungalow to the public, the dharna is being deferred, said Ramv

Hang me the day you find my involvement in corruption: Kejriwal to PM Modi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed that central probe agencies are trying to prove by "any means" that he is a "thief", and told the prime minister that he can hang him publicly if corruption of even a paisa is found against him. Kejriwal was on April 16 questioned by the CBI in connection with the excise policy case in which his former deputy Manish Sisodia is already in jail. The agency had summoned Kejriwal as a witness. "They put the CBI, ED, Income Tax and police after me. Why? There is only one purpose -- which is to prove by any means that 'Kejriwal chor hai (Kejriwal is a thief)' and prove that he has indulged in corruption," he said. Kejriwal was speaking after dedicating 80 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' to the people of Punjab at an event here. "I want tell Modi ji," the Delhi CM said, "Prime Minister ji, if Kejriwal is corrupt, there is no one honest in this world. I want to tell him that the day you find corruption of a single paisa against Kejriwal, hang me .

CM Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal launches 80 Aam Aadmi Clinics in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal launched 80 Aam Aadmi Clinics here on Friday. With this, 580 Aam Aadmi Clinics have become operational in the state and they are providing free and quality healthcare to people, Kejriwal said at event. "We have been in power for just one year in Punjab but work is being done at a great pace," he said. "Punjab is making quick progress. For 75 years, people only saw loot and for the first time the state is touching heights of development," the AAP national convener said. Kejriwal said an "honest government" has come to power in Punjab and this is making opponents jittery. He also said that the Aam Aadmi Party became a national party within a short time. Mann said 25.63 lakh patients from across Punjab have benefited from the Aam Aadmi Clinics. "These clinics have helped the government in preparing a database for checking the various diseases prevalent in the state and combating them effectively," he adde

BJP draws parallel with 'palaces' of Saddam in Kejriwal residence row

The BJP on Friday fired a fresh salvo at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal amid the row over the Rs 45 crore expenditure on his residence, comparing him with the likes of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in terms of "luxury" linked to their "palaces". BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi played videos of Kejriwal's old statements in which he presented himself as a crusader against political leaders spending public money on maintaining expensive lifestyles, including big houses, and luxurious cars. Trivedi hit out at Kejriwal, quoting a 2013 tweet of him in which he had targeted the then Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit for allegedly having 10 ACs in her house when so many people lived in slums. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party leaders of playing an "important role" in creating a crisis of credibility in Indian politics and claimed that it is the conduct of the likes of him that causes distrust among people about the political class. The BJP under

CM Kejriwal being spied upon by Delhi police, alleges Saurabh Bhardwaj

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday alleged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was being spied on by the Delhi Police with its Special Cell officials in plainclothes "roaming around" his residence the whole day. AAP chief spokesperson and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told a press conference here the party's Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh have written to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora in connection with the matter. The Delhi Police refused to comment on the matter. Addressing the media, Bharadwaj said, "In the last two days, our MPs have written letters on a very serious issue." He then read out from the similar letters written by the MPs. "I would like to draw your attention to a serious issue. Delhi's people have made Kejriwal CM thrice. There have been security lapses and he has been attacked. Police are supposed to protect the citizens. But it's sad that they are not able to keep even the chief minister safe. Few days back, a drone was spotted near his resid

Arvind's residence renovated in violation of Master Plan 2021: BJP's Lekhi

Union minister and BJP MP from New Delhi Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday alleged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence here was renovated in violation of the Master Plan 2021, and many trees were removed for the exercise. No immediate reaction was available from the Kejriwal government or the ruling Aam Aadmi Party over the allegations. Lekhi, who on Wednesday joined the Delhi BJP's indefinite dharna near Kejriwal's 6, Flagstaff Road residence, alleged there was a "scam" in the renovation of the CM's accommodation which cost Rs 45 crore. The Delhi BJP launched the dharna near Kejriwal's official residence in Civil Lines on Monday. The party has also alleged a "scam" in the exercise carried over 2020-22. A new 500-yard bungalow can be built with around Rs 4-5 crore while Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore just on the renovation of his residence at a time when the COVID pandemic raged, said the minister. "The same Kejriwal who before coming to power used to say he will not enjoy

Sanjay Singh's name in excise case charge sheet deliberate, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party Wednesday alleged the mention of its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh's name in the Delhi excise policy case charge sheet by ED was a "deliberate attempt" to defame the party and its leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier in the day, the party said Singh has written to the Union finance ministry secretary seeking sanction to prosecute Enforcement Department (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Assistant Director Jogender Singh in connection with allegations made against him in the excise policy case. ED sources said the name of the AAP leader appears four times in the charge sheet out of which one reference was wrong and typed inadvertently. They said the agency has moved a petition in the court to rectify the anomaly in the prosecution complaint (charge sheet). Addressing a press conference, Delhi Cabinet minister and AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the CBI and ED have become "synonyms for harassment, fear, torture, ...

BJP asks AAP, Kejriwal to come clean on involvement in excise policy case

The BJP said on Wednesday that the Aam Aadmi Party is getting "exposed" by the day as it asked the party to come clean on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's alleged involvement in the corruption case involving the city's excise policy. At a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi cited reports to question if the change in timing of restaurants in the national capital was due to some "commercial deal" involving AAP leaders. He also referred to reports of the statement made by secretary of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia about Kejriwal's alleged presence in a meeting where decision to raise commission for liquor contractors from 2 per cent to 12 per cent was taken to attack the AAP leader. To a question about the AAP's criticism of probe agency Enforcement Directorate, the BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member said the party has a history of making false allegations and apologising later. As it has no answer to the charges levelled against its leader, it is .

Arvind must go to jail for spending Rs 45 cr on residence renovation: BJP

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will have to go to jail for spending Rs 45 crore on the renovation of his official residence, Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said on Tuesday. Bidhuri was addressing the protesters who gathered outside Kejriwal's home for the BJP's dharna, which entered the second day on Ruesday. The BJP on Monday launched an indefinite dharna near Kejriwal's official residence following controversy over the Rs 45-crore renovation. Bidhuri said the chief minister is entitled to Rs 15 lakh for the beautification of his official residence. Instead, Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore. "The BJP workers will not rest till Kejriwal is in Tihar Jail," he added. Alleging that there was a "scam" in the expenditure, the BJP has also demanded Kejriwal's resignation. Bidhuri said the "misdeeds" of Kejriwal and the AAP have been exposed before the people of Delhi and he will be removed from power in 2025. The BJP will form the government in Delhi after the assembly elect

BJP stages dharna, urges Kejriwal to allow public to see his lavish living

The BJP on Monday launched an indefinite dharna near Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence following a controversy over the Rs 45-crore renovation on the premises. The BJP urged the chief minister to open the gates of the 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines residence to the general public so that they can see for themselves his "lavish living", even if the entry is ticketed. Leading the protesters, the BJP's Chandni Chowk MP Harsh Vardhan said Kejriwal should open his "bungalow" for the common people so that they can see for themselves the renovation that was undertaken. He can do so by issuing entry tickets, the former Union minister said. The BJP has been attacking Kejriwal and the AAP, alleging that the chief minister spent Rs 45 crore on the renovation of his official residence during 2020-22. "The most shameful thing in this is that this scam was done at a time when corona was in its worst form in Delhi and hundreds of people were dying every day," the BJP's De

Delhi BJP to stage indefinite dharna outside CM's house over renovation

Delhi BJP will hold an indefinite sit-in outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's house over his allegedly spending Rs 45 crore on renovation of his official residence, a party functionary said Sunday. The party will stage a sit-in outside Kejriwal's official residence 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines from Monday, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said. Earlier in the week, the BJP had alleged that Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore on renovation of his official house during 2020-22. "The most shameful thing in this is that this scam was done at a time when Corona was in its worst form in Delhi and hundreds of people were dying every day," Sachdeva said. The dharna will be led by BJP MP Harsh Vardhan with workers from Keshav Puram and Chandni Chowk districts, he said.

Atishi says Delhi L-G seeking report on CM home renovation unconstitutional

Delhi PWD Minister Atishi on Sunday wrote to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena saying his directions seeking the seizure of records and directing executive action in connection with renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence is "unconstitutional" and "undemocratic". In the letter, she urged the L-G to "withdraw his communication" and "restore the scheme of governance intended by the Constitution for Delhi and its people". "We hope that you will not force the elected government to approach the court once again in respect of your actions," Atishi maintained. Amid a row over crores of rupees spent on renovating Kejriwal's official residence, Saxena has ordered officials to secure the records of expenditure and sought a report on the matter within 15 days. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been attacking Kejriwal and the AAP, claiming Rs 45 crore was spent on the renovation of the chief minister's residence at 6, Flagstaff Road here during 2020-22. The Aam Aadmi

First-ever mega parent-teacher meeting held in Delhi govt, MCD schools

The first-ever joint parents-teacher meeting (PTM) was organised in all the Delhi government and MCD schools of the capital on Sunday with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that they will now work to transform the civic body-run schools. According to officials, the meeting was conducted in more than 1,000 Delhi government schools and over 1,500 MCD schools. "Today, a mega PTM is being held in both MCD and Delhi government schools in Delhi. Just as Delhi government schools have been transformed with the help of all students, teachers, and parents, we will now work together to transform MCD schools as well," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. Education Minister Atishi, who also visited some schools, said in 2015 when the Kejriwal government was formed, the condition of Delhi government schools was the same as MCD schools now. There was no cleanliness, no drinking facility and benches and desks were broken. But after years of hard work and dedication, the old education system in Delhi was

PM Modi won't be able to stop Kejriwal's work in Delhi, says Sisodia

On Thursday, the same court had extended Sisodia's judicial custody till May 12, in the case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation