Page 97 - Arvind Kejriwal

Kejriwal directs labour dept to reach out to 1.3 mn construction workers

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed the labour department to reach out to over 13 lakh construction workers of the city and offer them free bus passes after proper verification and registration with the relevant welfare board, officials said on Wednesday. The Kejriwal government in May 2022 had announced free travel for registered construction workers in public buses. The move was aimed at benefiting over 10 lakh people. Charing a high-level review meeting on various ongoing projects of the labour department, Kejriwal directed it to reach out to over 13 lakh construction workers in Delhi and offer them free bus passes after proper registration and verification with the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board, according to an official statement. The chief minister also directed the department to assess the possibility of getting group life insurance for construction workers, similar to that provided for lawyers, it said. Kejriwal also said the labo

AAP's challenges and contradictions as it gets a national party tag

Education and health aside, AAP will now have to address issues on which it has not voiced an opinion so far

Anti-national forces put Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in jail: Delhi CM Kejriwal

The chief minister of Delhi said that the party getting the status of national party in a short span of 10 years was a "miraculous and incredible" achievement

'All anti-national forces wanting to halt country's progress against AAP'

All "anti-national forces" that want to halt the country's progress are against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said here on Tuesday. Describing the AAP's newly-acquired status of a national party in a short span of 10 years as a "miraculous and incredible" achievement, Kejriwal said it brings with it a huge responsibility as well. He urged people to join the AAP in order to make India the number one country in the world. "All anti-national forces that want to stop the progress of the country are against the AAP, but the almighty is with us," the Delhi chief minister said in an address at the party headquarters here. He said the AAP's ideology is based on three pillars -- die-hard honesty, patriotism and humanity -- adding that the aim of the party is to make India the number one country in the world. "It is time to remember the AAP's ideology. There are three pillars of the AAP's ideology -- kattar imandari (die-hard honesty), kattar patriotism an

Explained: Criteria for becoming national party, roles, advantages and more

The Election Commission of India revised the list of national and state political parties, elevating AAP to national party while demoting NCP and TMC

National party status to AAP in such a short time a miracle: Kejriwal

It is nothing less than a "miracle" for AAP to get the national party status in such a short time, its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said after the Election Commission granted the recognition to it on Monday. Kejriwal credited people for the recognition and sought blessings from God to enable his party fulfil their expectations. Soon after the Election Commission's announcement, he tweeted in Hindi, "National party in such a short time? This is nothing less than a miracle. Many congratulations to all." "Crores of people of the country have brought us here. People expect a lot from us. Today people have given us a huge responsibility, he said and sought blessings from God so the party fulfils this responsibility well. Formed in November 2012, the Aam Aadmi Party has got national party status in just 10 years. The party is currently in power in Delhi and Punjab.

Have signatures of over 1 mn Delhiites against arrest of Sisodia, Jain: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday claimed to have collected signatures of more than 10 lakh Delhiites against the arrests of its leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain. The signatures were collected during a door-to-door campaign launched by AAP on March 13 across Delhi to demand justice for the release of its senior leaders lodged in jail. Party's state convener Gopal Rai said now a letter will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark the protest. "The people of Delhi wish to convey one message to the nation's Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Do good work and let the administration of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal work in Delhi," he said. Delhi environment minister said Lok Sabha in-charge, district in-charge, co-ordinators, MLAs and councillors of the party visited around 2,800 polling stations in the 70 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Delhi and collected signatures from the people. "We set a goal of collecting roughly 10 lakh signatures of the residents of Delhi against the

Over 1 mn signatures collected against Sisodia, Jain's arrest: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said it has collected more than 10 lakh signatures during its door-to-door campaign against the arrests of its leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain. Following this, a letter will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest the arrest of Sisodia and Jain, the AAP's Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said. The party had last month kick-started the door-to-door campaign in all the wards of Delhi to collect signatures from the residents. "Our target was to collect 10 lakh signatures and we achieved it on Sunday. Our district incharges, Lok Sabha incharges and councillors were involved in the campaign," Rai said. Everyone knows that Sisodia and Jain were the people who transformed the education and healthcare system in the national capital, Rai claimed. "Sisodia transformed the government schools while Jain gave the model of mohalla clinics. People are angry at the fact that these people have been put behind bars," he said during a press ...

Lawyers' delegation meets Delhi CM Kejriwal, seeks law for their protection

Expressing concern over their safety, a delegation of the city's lawyers on Saturday met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and pressed for an act for their protection. The delegation, including members of the coordination committees of district bar associations, claimed that various cases of assault on lawyers have taken place in recent weeks. It pointed to the murder of advocate Virendra Kumar Narwal earlier this month and pressed for a "Delhi Advocate Protection Act". Kejriwal, on his part, assured the delegation of extending all possible support within the Delhi government jurisdiction, according to a statement. The lawyers' delegation claimed that there is a long history of murders, violent attacks, intimidation and damage to property of advocates. They also raised concerns regarding alleged cases of false implications against lawyers and sought the passage of a bill for their protection, the statement said. It said a draft of a proposed bill seeks to ensure adequate prote

Kejriwal slams BJP over alleged demolition of school adjacent to its office

BJP's name will be etched in history if it demolishes its office to build schools but is doing the opposite which is very painful, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday, in a swipe at the saffron party which accused him of being a "habitual liar". Kejriwal made the remarks after inaugurating a school in East Vinod Nagar, even as the BJP refuted the allegation by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday that it has "encroached" on a government school land adjacent to its new central office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg and is going to demolish the building there. The BJP claimed that the school building was lying abandoned for many years and no school was running there. Also, the building was on the land of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) which had already given a notice to the MCD to take back its possession. Kejriwal on Saturday charged that while the AAP government is building new schools, the BJP was demolishing schools to build its office. "They will have their

Kejriwal responds to BJP leader, says will host extra classes for students

If some children are weak in studies, extra classes will be organised for them, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday, responding to a BJP leader who posted mark sheets of students, who didn't perform well, on Twitter. One of these children will become the prime minister of the country in future and we do not want anyone to become PM in future with a fake degree," Kejriwal tweeted. The statement from the chief minister came in response to BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana who posted mark sheets of government school students and alleged that more than 1 lakh children fail in Class 9 every year. Earlier, the Delhi Congress also demanded a probe into the allegations of teachers being forced to write answers on blank exam papers of Class 9 and 11 students of Delhi government schools.

Sisodia the reason behind transformation of Delhi govt schools: Kejriwal

Delhi government schools could be transformed over the last eight years only because of Manish Sisodia, who would wake up at 6 every morning and go on their inspection, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday. Kejriwal made the statement while laying the foundation stone for the new building blocks for Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Bal Vidyalaya in East Vinod Nagar. He said the school will look like Columbia University after it is fully constructed. Speaking about his deputy and former education minister, Kejriwal said, "They (Centre) jailed Manish Sisodia accusing him of corruption. He is the same leader who used to wake up every morning at 6 to visit schools." Corrupt leaders don't go visiting schools for inspection at 6 am, he said. "Students of Delhi government schools are excelling in academics. They are even clearing competitive exams and becoming doctors, engineers, and police officers. "There is one man behind this education transformation and he is Manish Sisodia

Delhi govt 'misled' HC on transfer of schools, alleges L-G's office

Alleging that the Delhi government submitted "false" statements in the high court regarding the transfer of schools for children with special needs, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has directed the chief secretary to file an affidavit giving the "correct picture", his office said on Friday. No immediate reaction was available from the AAP dispensation to the charge by the LG office that may kick-start a fresh round of war of words between the two sides. "The AAP government inordinately delayed a file concerning handing over of the social welfare department's special schools for children with disability to the education department, and then misled the Delhi High Court on November 18, 2022 and again on February 17, 2023 saying that the file was pending with the LG," the LG office said in a statement. As a matter of fact, the file was "deliberately kept pending" with the government and was sent to the LG on March 28 this year, over four months after the high court was "misled" with fals

Punish schools for forcing parents to buy books from specific shops: Atishi

Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Friday directed the officials to initiate action against private schools that allegedly forced parents of students to buy expensive books and uniforms from specific vendors. She said the violation of the Education Department guidelines on books and uniforms by private schools "will not be tolerated" and that strict action will be taken against such schools. "Private schools must either stop forcing parents to buy books and uniforms from specific sellers or be ready to face severe consequences. Violation of education department guidelines will not be tolerated," Atishi said. The Education Department had issued instructions to schools on March 17 to comply with the guidelines on sale of books and school uniforms. It said immediate notice must be issued stating the reasons in case of any complaint. And in case of violation, action will be taken under the relevant provisions of the Delhi School Education Act 1973, it added. "There have been continuous

Amid rising temperatures, Delhites struggle to find favourite beer brands

Liquor shops in Delhi have limited stocking space, and a low number of shops in the city naturally means a low total stock holding

MCD school to be upgraded on lines of Delhi govt schools in 5 yrs: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reviewed the education system in MCD schools on Thursday and said they will be upgraded on the lines of Delhi government schools in the next five years. Chairing a high-level meeting with Education Minister Atishi and MCD officials, Kejriwal emphasised the need for a significant overhaul of the infrastructure of the schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. During the meeting, Kejriwal said even the best schools of MCD fail to match the standard of Delhi government schools. He identified several areas that require attention, including sanitation, toilets facilities, overburdened teachers and a lack of adequate number of non-educational staff, the government said in a statement. "The chief minister stressed that MCD schools need to be transformed on the lines of Delhi government schools. The Kejriwal Model of Education, which has transformed Delhi's government schools, will be implemented in MCD schools very soon," the statement added. The chi

Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann launch 'CM di Yogshala' programme in Punjab

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday blamed the Centre for the suspension of free yoga classes under the AAP government's 'Dilli Ki Yogshala' initiative but expressed hope that it will restart again, saying good things cannot be stopped. He was speaking during the launch of 'CM di Yogshala' programme in Punjab. The initiative was initially launched for four cities -- Patiala, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Phagwara by Kejriwal along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. A 'CM di yogshala' portal was also launched on the occasion. Kejriwal was referring the AAP government's 'Dilli ki Yogshala' programme that offered free yoga classes and was launched in the national capital in 2021. The programme, however, was stopped last year amid a tussle between the city government and Lt Governor VK Saxena. Under the Punjab government's initiative, people could give a missed call on a helpline number 7669400500 to seek a free yoga teacher from the state government. Sixty people have

Contracts of MCD teachers to be renewed soon: Delhi Education Minister

Addressing the concerns of the teachers, Atishi said that empowering government school teachers has always remained the topmost priority for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Modi is PM not for his degree but authorities must respond: Jayant Patil

Nationalist Congress Party state president Jayant Patil said on Tuesday that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic qualification has become a subject of public debate, then the authorities concerned should respond to questions being raised over it, asserting that NCP does not think Modi has become the PM because of his degree. It's not that Modi became the PM because of his degree. The PM has disclosed his educational qualification and if questions are being raised about it and people are also discussing it, the matter is bound to get analysed in detail. The authorities concerned must respond to it, Patil said. We do not believe that Modi became the prime minister because of his academic qualification, he said. On Monday, his party colleague Ajit Pawar said people voted for Modi in the 2014 general elections as he created a charisma that the BJP did not have and not his degree. He (Modi) has been representing the country for nine years. I have observed that the issue of his or

Kejriwal, Mann to jointly launch Punjab's 'CM di Yogshala' on Apr 5

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will launch 'CM di Yogshala' programme in Punjab on Wednesday, the party said in a statement here. The statement came a day after Mann said his government will initially start 'CM di Yogshala' initiative in four cities -- Amritsar, Ludhiana, Phagwara and Patiala. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Tuesday said they have launched a helpline 7669400500 where people can give a missed call to seek a free yoga teacher from the state government. People will be able to get all kinds of information about diet and yoga exercise, he said. "Today, so many people are suffering from diseases related to the respiratory system, blood pressure, sugar levels and heart issues. Therapeutic yoga can help all these patients a great deal," Singh said. He said 60 people have been trained at Guru Ravidas University to teach yoga under the 'CM di Yogshala' initiative. "With 'CM di Yogshala', people will lead a healthier life, they wi