Page 7 - Aam Aadmi Party

BJP should not try to divert attention from garbage issue: Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the BJP should not try to divert attention from the garbage issue amid allegations that the Delhi government is spraying poisonous chemicals to remove froth in Yamuna ahead of Chhath Puja. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Thursday accused the Delhi government of spraying poisonous chemical to remove froth from the Yamuna ahead of Chhath Puja during which devotees take a holy dip in the river. "The people of Delhi have given us five years to clean the Yamuna. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls will be an election of Delhi's cleanliness and garbage. The BJP should not deviate from the issue. They should give an account of their 15 years," he said in a tweet in Hindi. West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also challenged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take a dip in the Yamuna and alleged that the AAP chief's visit to Ghazipur landfill site was a ploy to divert attention from the issue of pollution in the river.

He is lowering the dignity of the chair he occupies: AAP on Delhi LG

After Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena cautioned AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal against "misleading" and "pre-mature publicity" regarding Chhath Puja, AAP has hit back at him

'Lakshmi-Ganesh on rupee': Can Centre change the look of Indian banknotes?

Any decision related to the changes that are made in the design and form of bank notes and coins are governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the central government

Height of U-turn, says BJP on Kejriwal's bid for Gods' images on currency

The BJP on Wednesday cited past comments of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to claim that his demand for having images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes is the height of U-turn as he is "trying" to be a Hindu. His hypocrisy is on show, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters as he noted that the Aam Aadmi Party government had recently warned people celebrating Diwali with firecrackers of legal action. Patra also referred to AAP leader Rajendra Pal Gautam's presence at a controversial religious conversion event recently where pledge to not worship Hindu deities was taken. Gautam "abused" and "mocked" deities but he remains in the AAP, he said, claiming that his removal as a minister in the Kejriwal government was an eyewash. The BJP spokesperson also noted that Kejriwal had once spoken against the construction of Ram temple and said a hospital should be built at the site in Ayodhya. Internet is full of his "anti-Hindu" remarks, he said, and also referr

People will reject BJP and give AAP a chance in MCD polls, says Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said people of Delhi would reject the BJP in the upcoming MCD polls and give a chance to the Aam Aadmi Party to clean up the national capital. Speaking at a media briefing, Kejriwal challenged the BJP to show one good work it had done during the last 15 years that it had controlled the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). "Delhi's people will fight the elections and Gujarat's residents will fight the polls there. Ask (the) BJP even if they have done one good deed during the last 15 years in the MCD and in 27 years in Gujarat. "On the other hand, if you go out on the road and ask anyone about the work done by Kejriwal in the last seven years, you will know," he said. MCD polls are expected to be held at the end of 2022 or early next year. However, there has been no formal announcement regarding the dates. In 2017, the BJP swept the civic body polls, bagging 181 wards in the erstwhile south, north and east Delhi municipal corporations. Th

BJP plays the freebies game to match AAP's goodies for the Gujarati voters

The prelude to the polls also saw mega projects unveiled by the Centre and the handing out of a few sops to match the breathless pace at which AAP has promised an array of goodies to voters

Do not insult common man by referring to facilities as 'revdi': Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday questioned why people, who are worried due to inflation, should not get access to free education and treatment, and said by calling such things free "revdi", the common man should not be insulted. Kejriwal tweeted a media report in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had slammed the political culture of "revdi" or freebies. "People are quite worried due to the price rise. Why should they not get free education, treatment, medicines and electricity? Politicians get so many facilities for free. Banks waived the loans of so many rich people. By calling it free revdi again and again, do not insult the common man," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said in a tweet in Hindi. Modi had slammed the freebie culture in his address after virtually conducting the "grih pravesh" ceremony of 4.51 lakh beneficiaries of the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. "Every taxpayer must be thinking that as I celebra

Arvind Kejriwal urges PM Modi to work together to improve India's schools

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work together to improve the country's schools and offered his government's expertise. Kejriwal's remarks come after Modi visited a school in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, and interacted with students. "PM sir, we have done a wonderful job in the field of education in Delhi. In five years, all the government schools of Delhi were improved remarkably. Schools across the country can be improved in five years," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "We have experience in this field. Please use our experience completely for this. Let's do it together for the country." He also posted a picture of Modi sitting in a classroom with the students. "I am very happy that today all the parties and leaders of the country have to talk about education and schools. This is our biggest achievement. I hope that education is not missed only during elections. All governments together can make its schools great in just

Sisodia leaves CBI HQ after 9-hr questioning,claims 'was asked to quit AAP'

The CBI on Monday questioned Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the Delhi excise scam case for over nine hours, officials said. Sisodia had arrived at the agency's headquarters around 11.15 am and was taken straight to the first floor of the anti-corruption branch, they said. The deputy chief minister was grilled for over nine hours on various aspects of the Delhi government's excise policy, his relations with other accused, including businessman Vijay Nair, and documents recovered during searches in the case, the officials said. The CBI has also questioned Raghava Reddy, the son of YSRCP Lok Sabha MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, in the case, they said.

CBI refutes allegations made by Sisodia that he was threatened to leave AAP

The CBI on Monday refuted the allegation levelled by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that during his questioning in the Delhi excise scam case, he was threatened to quit the AAP. In a statement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that Sisodia was examined strictly on the allegations in the FIR and the evidence collected so far during the course of investigation. "His statement will be verified in due course and further action taken as per requirements of investigation," the agency said. The CBI said some sections of the media have aired a video in which, after leaving the CBI office, Sisodia has stated on camera that during his questioning, he was threatened to leave his political party and similar such insinuations. "The CBI strongly refutes these allegations and reiterates that examination of Sisodia was carried out in a professional and legal manner strictly as per the allegations against him in the FIR. The investigation of the case will continue as per the law

Gujarat wants 'new engine government' not 'double engine' one: Kejriwal

Taking a dig at the BJP-led Central government, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said Gujarat doesn't want a "double-engine government" but a "new engine" government. Addressing a rally in Bhavnagar city in the poll-bound state, Kejriwal said if Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) comes to power, it will withdraw on priority all "false cases" registered against people from various communities, groups and government employees for agitating against the BJP government in the last 27 years. In a veiled swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's events in Gujarat where he launched projects worth crores, Kejriwal said he cannot announce such a huge package but will ensure benefits worth Rs 30,000 to households through his "guarantees". "They say 'double engine ki sarkaar' (a double-engine government). This time, Gujarat does not want a double-engine, it wants a 'new engine.' The double engine is very old, both engines are 40-50 years old. A new party, new faces, new ideology,

AAP says Sisodia will be arrested, Kejriwal compares him with Bhagat Singh

After Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that he has been summoned by the CBI, CM Arvind Kejriwal compared him with freedom fighter Bhagat Singh

Press mute for Indian Muslims

The silence of national parties, leaders on the flogging of Muslim men in Gujarat shows how afraid 'secular' forces have become, allowing radical Muslim voices to fill the vacuum

BJP responsible for Rs 900-crore fine slapped by NGT on Delhi govt: AAP

The AAP blamed the BJP on Friday for the imposition of a Rs 900-crore fine by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the Delhi government for improper management of solid municipal waste and demanded that the civic body polls be held in the city "at the earliest". Addressing a press conference here, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Durgesh Pathak said the people of the national capital will have to pay the price for the "inefficiency" of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which is run by the BJP. There was no immediate reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the allegation levelled by the AAP. "We demand that the MCD polls be held at the earliest so that the people of Delhi can oust the BJP from the civic body," Pathak, who is the AAP's MCD poll in-charge, said. The NGT directed the Delhi government on Wednesday to pay Rs 900 crore as environmental compensation for improper management of solid municipal waste, observing that citizens cannot be faced with an emergency ...

Hundreds join AAP's Gautam in march for abolition of caste, untouchability

Hundreds of people joined Aam Aadmi Party leader Rajendra Pal Gautam who marched from from Raj Niwas to Dr Ambedkar National Memorial here on Friday and pledged to fight casteism and untouchability. The supporters carried placards and flags and shouted 'Jai Bheem, Jai Bheem'. Gautam, who recently resigned after he got into a controversy over a religious conversion event which he presided over, said caste-based violence must be stopped in the country. "The incidents targeting members of a particular community on the basis of caste must come to an end. The Prime Minister and Home Minister should take strong actions. "I believe in Ambedkar's Constitution and law. Through Buddha, the message of peace and humanity had gone to the world from India. I believe that our country will progress with humanity and peace. We will also pledge to abolish the caste system, and for peace and brotherhood in the country," Gautam said. "This caravan is not going to stop. I, along with thousands of ...

Delhi govt allocates Rs 25 cr for Chhath Puja celebrations at 1,100 sites

The Delhi government has made grand preparations for Chhath Puja at 1,100 sites and allocated Rs 25 crore for the festival, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday. Chhath will be celebrated on October 30 and 31. During a digital media briefing, the chief minister said his government has made preparations such as washrooms, ambulances, first-aid and power backup at the sites. He stressed that the Delhi Police was fully supporting in the security aspect and CCTV cameras would be installed at various locations. "For the last two years, the festivities were affected due to the pandemic. Since the formation of our government in 2014, the celebrations have become bigger. Earlier before we came to power, the government would allocate Rs 2.5 crore for making preparations at 69 sites, but now, the budget has grown to 25 crore and the sites to 1,100," Kejriwal said. He urged people to pray to Chhathi Maiyya not just for themselves but for the country for relief from the coronavirus.

Gujaratis will make AAP pay price for 'abusing' PM Modi's mother: BJP

The BJP on Friday sharpened its attack on the Aam Aadmi Party after its Gujarat chief Gopal Italia was heard purportedly mocking the prime minister's mother in a video, and said people of the state will make it pay for "abusing" her. An old video of Italia emerged on Thursday in which he is purportedly heard mocking Modi's 100-year-old mother Hiraba. Italia is also heard purportedly using a derogatory word for Modi, drawing strong condemnations from BJP leaders. "If you think abusing the prime minister's mother will help you gain political popularity in Gujarat, you are mistaken. And for that mistake, Gujarat and Gujaratis will make you pay the political price in the forthcoming elections," Union minister Smriti Irani told reporters on Friday, attacking AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. She claimed Italia's comments were made on Kejriwal's instructions, saying the Gujarat AAP leader has made a number of comments which have also "insulted" the Hindu society and temple-going women. Irani s

Work underway on Delhi's stretches marked for redevelopment, beautification

The Delhi government has identified several stretches of roads for redevelopment and beautification under its streetscaping project

Delhi Police again questions Rajendra Pal Gautam in religious event row

Former AAP minister Rajendra Pal Gautam was questioned for three hours on Tuesday over a complaint against him for attending a religious conversion where Hindu deities were allegedly denounced, officials said. A day after resigning from the Delhi Cabinet due to the controversy over the event, he was quizzed by police at his residence on Monday. Later, he was issued a formal notice to appear before officials on Tuesday. Police said Gautam joined the inquiry at around 2:30 pm at the Paharganj Police Station. "There was a complaint against Rajendra Pal Gautam. So, he was called for questioning as part of the inquiry into the matter. He was asked questions relating to the complaint," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan said. After the inquiry was completed, he left the police station around 5:30 pm, she added. According to police, Gautam was questioned about the sequence of events that transpired on the day of the event, his intentions behind the alleged speech whic

Karnataka AAP opposes Centre's decision to import areca nut, pepper

The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Karnataka unit has strongly opposed the Centre's decision to import areca nut and pepper from foreign countries.