Page 11 - Atishi Marlena

AAP worried about CM Kejriwal's security in ED custody: Atishi Marlena

Delhi cabinet minister Atishi on Friday said the Aam Admi Party (AAP) is worried about the safety of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in ED custody as he has been accorded Z+ security. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in connection with the excise policy-linked money laundering case. Addressing a press conference here, Atishi said this is for the first time in India's democratic history that a national party's chief has been arrested before the Lok Sabha polls. "ED has not been able to produce a single evidence. This shows how fearful the BJP is of Arvind Kejriwal," she charged. "They know that only one leader can challenge them which is is why they are making every attempt to trample Arvind Kejriwal and AAP," the minister added. She stressed that "Arvind Kejriwal is an ideology, an inspiration". "He left his Income Tax job to take to the streets to save democracy. You have arrested him to stop him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. Many .

ED a political weapon, aims to prevent CM Kejriwal from campaigning: Atishi

Delhi Minister Atishi on Tuesday accused the Enforcement Directorate of becoming a "political weapon" and claimed the agency's assertion that BRS leader K Kavitha was involved in paying Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders for favours in the now-scrapped excise policy has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Addressing a press conference, she alleged the federal probe agency's action was aimed at stopping Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal from campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. Kavitha, the MLC daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) agency last week from her Hyderabad home and she is in the federal probe agency's custody till March 23. In a statement on Monday, the ED claimed Kavitha along with others "conspired with the top leaders of AAP, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, for getting favours in the Delhi excise policy formulation and implementation". "In .

'Rs 1,000 honorarium scheme for Delhi women may roll out in Sep-Oct'

The Delhi government's new scheme under which Rs 1,000 will be given to adult women is likely to be rolled out in September-October, Finance Minister Atishi said on Tuesday, adding she expects it to translate into more women votes for the AAP in the Lok Sabha polls. Atishi presented her maiden budget with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore in the Delhi Assembly on Monday. In an interview to PTI, Atishi said the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana will be notified after the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha polls is lifted and expressed hope that the scheme will roll out from September-October. Another key scheme that will be rolled out in the 2024-25 fiscal is the Business Blasters scheme in Delhi government-run universities. Under the scheme, Rs 2,000 seed money is given to Class 11 and Class 12 students. "The government will be giving a seed money of Rs 25,000 to each selected team of student at its universities for start-ups. We expect 1,000 teams will be part of the scheme," she

Delhi govt allocates Rs 16,396 cr for education in Budget 2024-25

The Delhi government allocated Rs 16,396 crore for education in its budget for fiscal year 2024-25 announced on Monday. Presenting the budget in the Delhi Assembly, Finance Minister Atishi said the priority of the state government is to focus on providing quality education to the residents of the city. The minister highlighted that the government schools under the Kejriwal-led state government have transformed significantly. "In the last 10 years, major changes have been introduced in Delhi government schools. We doubled the budget for education in the national capital. Today we are proposing a budget of Rs 16,396 crore for education in Delhi," she said. "Before the Kejriwal government, the condition of Delhi government schools were not good. People were forced to go to private schools to study," Atishi, who also holds the education portfolio, added. Atishi said former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had played a significant role in improving the education scenario in Delhi.

Atishi announces Rs 1,000 monthly assistance scheme for women aged above 18

Delhi Finance minister Atishi on Monday announced the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' under which Rs 1,000 will be given monthly to all women aged above 18 from the fiscal year 2024-25. Atishi announced the scheme in her maiden budget speech. "The Kejriwal government will give a monthly amount of Rs 1,000 to every woman aged 18 or above. Under the Mukyamnatri Mahila Samman Yojana, women will be given this benefit," she said. Atishi presented the budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the Delhi Assembly on Monday with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore, and said the government is trying to realise the dream of 'Ram Rajya'.

Delhi L-G stalling implementation of Solar Policy, alleges AAP's Atishi

Delhi Power Minister Atishi on Wednesday alleged that Lt Governor V K Saxena is obstructing the AAP dispensation's Solar Policy to ensure that it is not notified before the enforcement of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls. Atishi raised the issue in the Delhi Assembly and also addressed a press conference on the issue. "First, the Lt Governor sat on the file. I asked the LG office personally about the policy file. When the file came back with several objections, it went from one officer to another. There is only one objective and that is to stop the policy from getting notified before the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls kicks in," Atishi said. "Today, LG sir, despite sitting on a constitutional post, is batting from the BJP's side," she alleged during a press conference. She urged Lt Governor to not make efforts to delay the implementation of the policy. "It is an excellent policy and will lead to reduction in pollution. Please do not make efforts to

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Police reach Atishi's residence to serve notice on AAP MLAs' 'poaching'

Crime Branch officials reached the residence of Delhi minister Atishi on Sunday to serve a notice in connection with allegations that the BJP was attempting to "poach" Aam Aadmi Party MLAs. Sources said Atishi was not present at her residence. The minister, however, has given directions to her office staff to receive the notice, sources in the AAP said. "The team will go again to serve notice to Atishi. This morning she was not present at her residence," a senior officer of Delhi Police Crime Branch said. This comes a day after Crime Branch officials served a notice to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to reply within three days in a probe into his claims that the BJP attempted to poach seven AAP MLAs. Kejriwal and Atishi are scheduled to lay the foundation stones of two schools in Rohini later in the day. On January 27, Kejriwal and Atishi had claimed that the BJP was trying to poach AAP MLAs by offering Rs 25 crore each and a ticket to contest next year's assembly

Cops visit Kejriwal, Atishi homes; fail to deliver notices to join probe

The Delhi Police Friday visited the official residences of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and cabinet minister Atishi to serve them notices to join the probe into their allegations that the BJP was trying to poach AAP MLAs, but they did not accept the notices, sources said. The sources in the Delhi Police said Crime Branch teams will visit their residences again on Saturday to give them the notices. This comes days after the Delhi BJP submitted a complaint to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora in the matter. The police sources said the notice was given to Kejriwal "but he did not accept it", a claim rejected by the AAP which said the crime branch team left without serving the notice. "The officials from the chief minister's office were ready to accept the notice but the Delhi Police left without handing over anything," an AAP source said. Referring to the notice meant for Kejriwal, sources in the police said he is supposed to join the probe. Another Crime Branch team went to

West Delhi roads to get facelift, PWD minister Atishi gives nod to project

PWD minister Atishi has approved projects to strengthen and upgrade roads in west Delhi, an official statement said on Sunday. These roads include Rohtak Road's (NH-10) service lanes from Metro pillar 109 to 273, Road No. 41, 77 and road from Paschim Puri Chowk to New Slum Quarters in Multan Nagar, it said. While approving the projects, Atishi said, The approved projects in west Delhi exemplify the Delhi Government's commitment to providing world-class road infrastructure for the citizens of Delhi. Strengthening of roads will benefit lakhs of people in these areas, decongest roads and their surroundings and inter-connectivity from main roads to colonies will improve. She added that these roads were constructed and upgraded long ago, due to which their condition is deteriorating day by day. PWD has got the assessment of roads thoroughly done by the experts and has been directed to start upgrading the roads, Atishi said. The minister also directed to ensure that no inconvenience is

Weather impacts schooling, make hybrid learning plan: Atishi to officials

Noting that schooling gets affected due to weather conditions such as heat wave and fog, Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Saturday directed officials to prepare a hybrid learning plan for schools. They were directed to make it by bringing together the Delhi Model Virtual Schools (DMVS) programme and the physical school model of the Delhi government, an official statement said. Through DMVS, the Delhi government aims to make all schools hybrid so that students' education does not get affected due to weather conditions, the minister said. "Schooling in Delhi gets frequently disturbed due to adverse weather like heat waves during summer and fog in winter. Through DMVS, we will make all Delhi government schools hybrid so that our children's education does not suffer from vagaries of weather," Atishi said. "For those children who cannot reach school, the Delhi government is taking the finest education to them through DMVS," she said. Started in 2022 by the AAP government, DMVS curren

Delhi schools to be closed for next 5 days up to Class 5 amid cold weather

A cold day to severe cold day was the state of the weather in Delhi, parts of East Rajasthan, northwest Rajasthan, Haryana and in isolated pockets over Punjab amid the unavailability of sunlight

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Delhi govt finance department begins budget preparations for 2024-25

The Delhi government has begun preparations for the 2024-25 budget with the Finance Department directing other departments to prepare realistic budget estimates. In an official communication last week, the Finance Department said that a final review of the budgetary position based on the actual expenditure of last nine months of all the departments will be taken up shortly. "You are requested to review the budget position as well as the possible expenditure during the remaining three months of the financial year in respect of your department with reference to trend of expenditure and submit a consolidated statement to this office...," it read. The department also noted that "the excessive/unnecessary re-appropriation of funds, not surrendering anticipated saving, rush of expenditure during the last quarter/month of the financial year and unnecessary supplementary provisions" have been adversely viewed. ""It has also recommended for preparing realistic budget estimates to avoid larg

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to leave for Gujarat on January 6, says AAP

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will leave for a three-day tour of Gujarat on Saturday in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, AAP sources said. The Delhi CM will address public meetings and party workers during his election tour, they said on Thursday. He is also likely to meet jailed AAP leader Chaitar Vasava during his three-day tour, they added. The development comes amid AAP leaders alleging that the Enforcement Directorate is likely to arrest Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

Security tightened outside Delhi CM's residence amid claims of ED arrest

Kejriwal, in his reply to the ED, expressed his readiness to cooperate with the investigation but declined to appear on the summoned date, calling the notice 'illegal'

Atishi directs quick repair of footpaths, central verges ahead of R-Day

Delhi cabinet minister Atishi on Saturday directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to complete the repair and maintenance of the city's footpaths and central verges ahead of the Republic Day. Atishi, who holds the PWD portfolio, in an official communication to the department's principal secretary, directed that the weekly reports on the work progress be submitted to her office every Monday. "Republic Day is an extremely important day in the history of the nation... It is also important to ensure that residents of Delhi feel proud of their city," her note said. "Therefore, it is important that the PWD starts repair and maintenance on a war-footing so that the entire city can be spruced up by January 26," it added. The minister said repair of all minor breakages of footpaths, central verges and painting of all road markings, kerbstones and grills on footpaths should be carried out promptly. She also directed for pruning of hedges in the central verges and on footpaths.

FM Atishi tables revised estimates of Budget 2023-24 in Delhi Assembly

Delhi Finance Minister Atishi tabled the revised estimates of budget 2023-24 in the Assembly on Friday, slashing spending on advertisements and non-yielding schemes while providing extra funds to the cash-strapped DJB. Delhi government sources claimed there was an encouraging rise in revenue of the government in 2023-24, hence no loans are required from the Centre. The revised estimates provide for an additional infusion of Rs 1,033 crore for the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in 2023-24, they said. Recently, Atishi had claimed that Delhi was staring at a water supply crisis and warned that the city may might face difficulty in sewerage maintenance due to funds crunch faced by the DJB. Sources said the Delhi government provided Rs 495 crore for road, rail transport system, gave additional Rs 471 crore for additional facilities at schools and set aside Rs 650 crore for pension of DTC retired employees, in the revised estimates for 2023-24. However, the budgetary allocations have been reduce

Delhi cabinet reshuffle: Atishi gets Law dept, now overseeing 14 portfolios

The Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's recommendation for the same was approved by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, said the Delhi government on Friday