Page 68 - Delhi

Traffic snarls in central Delhi as BJP demands CM Kejriwal's resignation

The central parts of Delhi witnessed massive traffic snarls on Wednesday as roads towards DDU Marg were blocked due to the BJP's protest demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who has been arrested in the excise policy case. The BJP held the protest near the AAP headquarters on DDU Marg. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters. In the commotion, the party's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva was injured and was taken to RML Hospital. Commuters faced a harrowing time in the ITO areas as traffic moved at a snail's pace. The Delhi Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory ahead of a BJP protest. In a post on X, it said, "In view of the proposed protest at DDU Marg, traffic will remain heavy at IP Marg, Vikas Marg, Minto Road and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. DDU Marg may remain closed for traffic movement from 11 am to 2 pm." The traffic police have urged the commuters to take alternative routes to avoid any inconvenience. Kejriwal was arrested on March 2

No fire at Aiims Delhi: DFS confirms getting call, but it was false alarm

A false alarm of fire at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was given to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) control room here on Tuesday evening, officials said. The call was made by a nearby resident at fire control room number 101 at 9.28 pm. The caller said that a fire broke out on top floor of the surgery block in AIIMS, they said. "Soon after the call, we sent seven fire tenders to the spot but they found no fire had occurred. There were some fumes from the LED light, which the caller believed that it is a fire," said an official of DFS. The local police also reached the spot and later declared the call as bogus, he said. The officer said that the caller has accepted that he mistakenly made the call. However, the police said that it is investigating the matter further.

MCD takes down over 612,000 political ads from city ahead of LS elections

In view of the Model Code of Conduct in force for the Lok Sabha elections, the MCD has removed 6,12,729 political advertisement from across its 12 zones till date, according to an official document. Abiding by the Election Commission's order, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has removed 2,64,798 hoardings, 2,67,867 posters/banners/wall paintings, 45,971 signages and 34,093 flags. As per the Election Commission (EC) order, any kind of poster, hoarding or banner in a public place which promotes any political party or leader has to be removed within 24 hours of the election schedule announcement. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force on March 16 with the Election Commission announcing the schedule for the general elections. Delhi will vote on May 25 in the sixth phase of the seven-phase polls. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

Group of 2,500 Delhi-based RWAs unveil 24-point citizen wish list

A group representing over 2,500 RWAs in the national capital on Monday unveiled a 24-point citizen wish list ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, demanding a sustainable city with better solutions for its air pollution problems, civic issues and governance. The United Residents Joint Action (URJA), in its citizens' charter for the next government, has made nine finance-related obligations, seven fundamental commitments, five leadership commitments and three citizen participation demands, the resident welfare associations (RWAs) group said in a statement. "The URJA's mandate calls for a more liveable, breathable, sustainable city with better solutions for its air pollution problems, civic issues and governance. The charter presents the key challenges faced by citizens of Delhi and their needs along with solutions that will work and specific demands for action," it said. The needs and solutions for developing sustainable city and states with reduced air pollution levels include better waste

Delhi HC rejects plea seeking removal of 'jailed' Arvind Kejriwal as CM

The petitioner said that after the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal on March 21, there was a 'lack of government' in the national capital

'Time for struggle': What AAP's Sanjay Singh said after coming out of Tihar

AAP leader Sanjay Singh expressed confidence in the eventual release of other party leaders, such as Arvind Kejriwal, Satyendar Jain, and Manish Sisodia, who are still in custody

NDMC's revenue collection for FY24 stands at Rs 3,795 cr, exceeds target

The New Delhi Municipal Council's revenues for the 2023-24 financial year exceeded its target, with property tax collection crossing the Rs 1,000-crore mark for the first time in its history, officials said on Wednesday. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) collected a revenue of Rs 3,795.30 crore from receipt sources such as property tax, licence fees, commercial revenue (water and electricity) and parking fees, it said in a statement. For the first time in the NDMC's history, the revenue from property tax crossed the Rs 1,000-crore mark, it said. "The NDMC has collected Rs 1,025.59 crore in property tax against a target of Rs 1,150 crore. The NDMC had collected property tax revenue of Rs 931.20 crore in 2022-23, Rs 950.75 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 690.78 crore in 2020-21," it added. During the 2023-24 fiscal, the NDMC collected Rs 1,811.71 crore in revenue from electricity and water supply against a target of Rs 1,659.95 crore. It had collected commercial revenue of Rs 1,503 cror

Congress likely to hold meet on Sunday to finalise remaining LS candidates

The top Congress leadership is likely to hold a meeting of its Central Election Committee (CEC) here on March 31 to discuss and finalise the remaining candidates for the Lok Sabha polls starting April 19. Sources said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, besides other senior leaders and members of the CEC, are likely to attend the meet. The sources said the names of the candidates that would be discussed during Sunday's CECs meeting would include those to be fielded from Delhi and Maharashtra. The Congress has so far announced a total of 208 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls that are scheduled to be held in seven phases staring April 19. The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.

Excise case: Court extends Delhi CM Kejriwal's custody till April 1

The agency had sought seven-day custody of the AAP chief, but the court said he has to be produced before the court on April 1 at 11 am

Excise policy case: Delhi HC rejects CM Kejriwal's interim bail plea

The judge, in the order, clarified the matter would be taken up for final disposal on April 3 and no adjournment shall be granted

If President's Rule imposed in Delhi, will be political vendetta: Atishi

Delhi cabinet minister Atishi on Thursday said if President's Rule is imposed in the national capital in the aftermath of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, it would be a clear case of "political vendetta". The Delhi government will not be run from jail, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena said on Wednesday in the backdrop of statements by AAP leaders that Arvind Kejriwal will continue as chief minister even if he is behind bars. Responding to Saxena's statement, Atishi, in an interview with PTI, cited The Representation of the People Act that disqualifies a lawmaker if he/she is convicted. "What is the constitutional provision he is drawing on? The law of the country is very clear. You have the GNCTD Act which is very clear that you cannot be the chief minister if you do not enjoy the majority of the House. These conditions do not apply. So, under what conditions will President's Rule be imposed?" she said. AAP leaders on several occasions ruled out Kejriwal's resignation, insist

NBCC sells 480,000 sq ft commercial space in South Delhi for Rs 1,905 crore

State-owned construction firm NBCC (India) on Wednesday said it has sold 4.8 lakh square feet of commercial space in South Delhi for Rs 1,905 crore on behalf of the government. In the 25th e-auction for commercial space at World Trade Centre (WTC) in Nauroji Nagar here, NBCC achieved the highest sale realization till date with the sale of 4.8 lakh square feet of commercial space for Rs 1,905 crore. "Power Finance Corporation Ltd, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd and Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd are the major organisations who bought space during this e-auction," it added. Out of the total area sold, around 4.38 lakh square feet having a sale value of about Rs 1,740 crore has been sold to public sector units (PSUs). The total number of successful bidders was five, out of which three were PSU bidders and two private entities. As on date, NBCC has sold a total commercial space of over 30 lakh square feet through 25 e-auctions having a sale value of over

Offerings in rivers: NGT allows DPCC, UPPCB to file responses in 4 weeks

The National Green Tribunal has allowed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to file within four weeks their responses regarding throwing worship offerings in rivers Ganga and Yamuna. The tribunal was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding pollution in the two rivers because of the throwing of flowers and garlands offered in puja (worship) in polythene bags in their ghats. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said that DPCCs counsel failed to point out the committee's response on the issue. The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that the counsel's submissions about submitting "a fresh proper response" covering the issue within four weeks. In an order passed on March 18, the bench noted that there was a similar plea of filing its response within four weeks from the UPPCBs counsel. Allowing

Holi 2024: Metro to start from 2:30 pm, other restrictions in Delhi NCR

Traffic police from Noida, Faridabad, and Delhi have urged people to not indulge in drunk driving on Holi and maintain regard for traffic signals and safety of others

ED takes cognisance of directions issued by Kejriwal to Delhi govt

The Enforcement Directorate has taken cognisance of Delhi minister Atishi's statement that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sent her directions from the agency's custody to initiate public welfare works related to water and sewerage, official sources said on Sunday. The federal agency will conduct an investigation to ascertain if these directions from the arrested chief minister were in line with the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court's order issued to the ED and Kejriwal during his custody period, the sources said. While remanding Kejriwal in ED custody till March 28, the court had allowed his wife Sunita Kejriwal and personal assistant Bibhav Kumar to meet him every day for half hour between 6 and 7 pm, apart from his lawyers for another half hour. Earlier on Sunday, Water Minister Atishi said at a press conference that Kejriwal sent her a document from ED custody on Saturday with "his directions" to resolve public issues related to water and sewerage. She said

Light rainfall likely in Delhi, NCR areas in next 2-3 hours, predicts IMD

The national capital received rainfall on March 3 as areas like Mandi House, RK Puram, Indraprastha, Kartavya Path, and Central Delhi witnessed fresh showers

Excise policy case: Enforcement Directorate arrests Delhi CM Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal is and will remain the Chief Minister of Delhi, says AAP's Atishi after his arrest

How Delhi CM Kejriwal's arrest may dent AAP's prospects in Lok Sabha polls

The arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday night could not have come at a worse time for the Aam Aadmi Party, which is already grappling with the absence of its top leadership from action. The party is eyeing at expanding its footprint across the country and has tied up with the Congress to contest the Lok Sabha polls against the BJP in Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat. Kejriwal is the fulcrum of the party's Lok Sabha campaign and its star campaigner. The party is already feeling the pinch of the absence of its senior leaders like Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Sanjay Singh. Now the arrest of Kejriwal has landed the ruling party of Delhi in the doldrums. On earlier occasions, whenever this question rose, the party maintained a tough stance saying it will fight it out, but there is no denying the fact that AAP's think tank won't find it easy to wriggle out of this problem. The party's campaign in Delhi, where it is contesting on four seats and in Gujarat, where it ha

I-T dept sets up control room in Delhi to check use of black money in polls

In order to check the use of black money in the upcoming general elections, the income tax department on Wednesday said it has set up a control room in the national capital and a dedicated toll-free number on which people can share information on suspicious movement of cash and valuables within the NCT region. Directorate of Income Tax (Investigation), Delhi, has set up a 24X7 control room at Civic Centre, New Delhi, and toll-free Mobile Number 9868168682 in connection with the General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2024, a finance ministry statement said. The identity of the informant shall be kept a secret, it said. "The vigil through the Control Room will help to check suspicious movement/distribution of cash, bullion and other valuables within the NCT of Delhi," it said, adding the control room will be functional during the entire period of Model Code of Conduct in Delhi. The Model Code of Conduct is already in place with the announcement of the dates for the general elections last we

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev undergoes emergency brain surgery at Apollo in Delhi

According to the Isha Foundation, Sadguru was examined by Dr Vinit Suri, a senior consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals and was advised to undergo an MRI