Page 13 - Aap Government

2.5 mn households get zero electricity bills: Punjab Power minister

The AAP government in Punjab has fulfilled its promise of providing 300 units of free electricity per month and as such 25 lakh domestic consumers have received zero bills, state Power Minister Harbhajan Singh said Saturday. In a statement, he claimed this was the first time a government is fulfilling its election promises in the initial year itself. Otherwise, previous governments have been fulfilling election promises only in the last year of their tenure, Singh claimed. The minister said of the total 72 lakh domestic consumers, bills were sent to 42 lakh out of which, 25 lakh have received zero electricity bills, he stated. The bills are for the July-August bi-monthly billing cycle. The power minister also said that due to the two-month billing circle with the waiver, consumers are getting 600 units of free electricity, which is more than the requirement of every normal household. Before the 2022 Punjab assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party had promised 300 units of free electri

AAP govt failed to protect minorities in Punjab: SAD leader Majithia

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Saturday said the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government has allegedly failed to protect the minorities and maintain peace and law and order in Punjab. Referring to the incident of vandalism of a church in Tarn Taran district, Majithia said ensuring law and order is the prime responsibility of the government, but it has continuously failed on this front. He said such unfortunate incidents were occurring because the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government was being "remote-controlled from Delhi". Asserting that the Sikhism always accorded due respect to people of all faiths, Majithia said, "The teachings of 'Guru Sahiban' have always taught us love, respect and tolerance for everyone. It is our duty to keep every minority in Punjab safe and secure. Punjabis will never tolerate any harm coming to them." Four masked men had broken into the church in Tarn Taran, vandalised it and fled after setting the pastor's car on fire on ...

FIR against Gujarat AAP chief for defaming BJP leaders Paatil and Sanghavi

A case was registered in Surat against Aam Aadmi Party's Gujarat unit chief Gopal Italia for allegedly defaming his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) counterpart CR Paatil and state minister Harsh Sanghavi, police said on Saturday. Italia is also accused of hurting the reputation of the BJP by saying that its "goons" were behind the attack on AAP leader Manoj Sorathiya in Surat city recently. Italia was accused of using defamatory words against state BJP president Paatil and Minister of State for Home Sanghvi, as per the FIR registered at Umara police station on the complaint of BJP worker Pratap Chodwadia. The FIR was registered under sections 500 (defamation), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (1)(b) (offending act inducing person to commit an offence against state or public tranquillity), and 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation) of the Indian Penal Code. After Sorathiya was attacked on August 31, Italia posted a video message in which

'We prefer to work quietly': Himanta tweets, tagging Kejriwal again

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday listed the initiatives of his government in the education sector, particularly for tea garden tribes, on Twitter, tagging Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal again. Sharing a video clip, Sarma said, "Unless forced to, we prefer to work quietly!" "In this academic year we've established 100 Secondary Schools for kids of tea garden workers; 100 more in pipeline. Tea gardens are located in remotest parts of Assam," he said. The video claimed that Assam has a robust school education system with more than 2 lakh teachers teaching over 65 lakh students in 44,521 government schools. A total of 1.18 lakh mid-day meal workers are also engaged by the state government, it said. While 100 secondary schools for children of tea garden workers have been opened this academic session, 100 more schools and 10 colleges are in the project preparation stage, it added. The video ended with the line, "We prefer to deliver quality, quietly!" The two chief minis

AAP asks PM to remove Delhi L-G for 'illegal award' of contract to daughter

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday alleged that Delhi LG V K Saxena misused his position and awarded a contract for interior designing of a Khadi lounge in Mumbai to his daughter when he was the KVIC chairman and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "immediately" sack him. Addressing a press conference, AAP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also demanded that legal proceedings be initiated against Saxena for allegedly the awarding to his daughter in violation of the law. "LG V K Saxena, during his term as KVIC chairman, misused his position and awarded a contract for interior designing of a Khadi lounge in Mumbai to his daughter. In awarding the contract, he violated the provisions of the KVIC Act 1961," Singh charged. The prime minister should immediately sack Saxena as the Delhi LG and legal action should be taken against him for illegally awarding the contract to his daughter, he said. The AAP is holding consultations with its senior lawyers and ...

What changes can consumers expect in Delhi after change in liquor policy?

From September 1, private liquor vendors in New Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) will shut down their stores and state government will regain control

AAP vote share in Gujarat up by 4% post CBI raid on Sisodia, says Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the Aam Aadmi Party's vote share in Gujarat has increased by 4 per cent after CBI raids against his deputy Manish Sisodia. This vote share will increase by 6 per cent if he is arrested, the AAP national convener said during a discussion on the confidence motion in the Delhi Assembly. "The CBI raided Sisodia, went to his village and searched his bank locker. CBI people said they did not find anything against him but are under pressure to arrest him," Kejriwal claimed. The prime minister has given a "certificate of honesty", he said. "The AAP's vote share has increased by 4 per cent in Gujarat after CBI raids against Sisodia. It will increase by 6 per cent if he's arrested," the chief minister said. Attacking the BJP, he said the saffron party leaders tried to buy AAP MLAs but none of his legislators accepted their offer. "Absolutely corrupt party lacks educated people while 'hardcore honest' party has those with good education,

300 liquor stores, 4 microbreweries: Host of changes for tipplers in Delhi

Delhi is set to return to the old liquor excise policy regime, which includes opening 300 new liquor shops, and four microbreweries in the city

Ensure strict action against AAP leader's attackers: Kejriwal to Gujarat CM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to his Gujarat counterpart, Bhupendra Patel, on Tuesday to ensure strict action against those who attacked and injured AAP leader Manoj Sorathiya in the state. Replying to a tweet of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker about the incident, Kejriwal said winning and losing is part of elections but it is against Gujarat's culture to crush the Opposition with violence. "It is not right to attack those from the Opposition like this. Winning and losing is part of elections, but it is against the culture of Gujarat to crush the Opposition with violence and people do not like it," the AAP national convenor said in a tweet in Hindi. "I appeal to the Gujarat chief minister to ensure strict punishment to the culprits and protect everyone," he added. Kejriwal's demand came after AAP worker Vikas Yogi posted pictures of Sorathiya, who appeared to have sustained injuries on his head, on Twitter, alleging that "BJP goons made a murderous attempt" on the .

CBI given me 'clean chit', says Sisodia after search of his bank locker

The CBI has given a "clean chit", Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Tuesday after a team of the probe agency searched his bank locker for about two hours. Sisodia and his wife were present as the four-member team, including a woman officer, conducted the search at a Punjab National Bank branch in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is among the 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the agency in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22. The CBI was acting under pressure, Sisodia told reporters after the search was over. "Just like my home, they did not find anything in my lockers. Jewellery of about Rs 70,000-80,000 of my children, my wife...I am happy that I got a clean chit from the CBI in searches today. They have found nothing (incriminating) from searches of my locker or residence," Sisodia told reporters here. The D

Anna Hazare writes letter to Kejriwal, slams Delhi govt's new excise policy

Social activist Anna Hazare has written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, slamming his government's new excise policy and said it seems the CM has "sunk in the addiction of power." Hazare also said it seems the new policy will encourage liquor sale and consumption and spur corruption. Last month, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22. Hazare, while citing the complete liquor ban in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, reminded former associate Kejriwal about the latter's book 'Swaraj' which favoured liquor ban. The activist, who had penned the book's foreword, said he has written a letter to Kejriwal for the first time since he became CM and that it pains him to read reports about the Delhi government's new excise policy. "You wrote several idealistic things in the book. Everyone had hopes from you but it seems that after becoming the CM

CBI officials search Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia's bank locker in Ghaziabad

CBI officials searched Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's locker here on Tuesday, chaos reigning outside the bank as camera crews jostled with each other and curious crowds gathered to see what was happening. A team of about five Central Bureau of Investigation officials reached the PNB branch at Sector 4 Vasundhara in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the national capital, to execute the search, officials said. Sisodia was at the bank with his wife. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is among the 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the agency in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22. The CBI is welcome, Sisodia had said in a tweet on Monday. "Tomorrow, the CBI is coming to check our bank locker. They did not find anything during a 14-hour-long raid at my residence on August 19. They won't find anything in the locker too. The CBI is welcome. My family and I will extend full cooperation in the

Delhi Assembly Secretariat bans entry of MPs in premises after MLA protests

In view of the tense situation due to the overnight protest at the Assembly premises by MLAs of the ruling AAP and opposition BJP, the Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday issued an order banning the entry of MPs and political party leaders in its premises. BJP leader and South MP Ramesh Bidhuri, however, arrived at the Assembly reception and also told reporters that all his party MPs will take part in the session, irrespective of the Secretariat order. He was stopped at the gate. The deputy speaker has observed that as members from the ruling and opposition parties are staging protests inside the Assembly complex, security arrangements should be tightened in and around the Assembly complex to ensure no untoward incidents take place, the order read. It said only one visitor, accompanied by an MLA, will be allowed to enter the Assembly complex after identity verification. However, Members of Parliament or political party leaders shall not be allowed to enter the Assembly complex keeping i

JP Nadda asks CM Arvind Kejriwal to prove innocence in Delhi liquor scam

BJP president JP Nadda has said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should answer the questions on the alleged liquor scam and go to court if no wrongdoing was committed. Addressing a press conference in Agartala, Nadda claimed that Kejriwal was trying to divert the people's attention from the alleged scam. "Whenever he is asked about the liquor scam and excise policy, he evades the questions. Sometimes Kejriwal claims that the Central government is trying to send his leaders to jail and sometimes he says AAP leaders are being harassed and sometimes he says something else," Nadda said on Monday. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has recommended a CBI probe into alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 while the AAP is claiming that he is "interfering" in the city government's work. "You first answer the queries of the investigative agencies. All the accused after detention claims he or she is innocent, honest and clean. If you have not ..

CBI officials will check my bank locker on Tuesday: Delhi Deputy CM Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has claimed that CBI officials will come to check his bank locker on Tuesday and said the agency sleuths will not find anything in it. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is among the 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy. On August 19, the federal probe agency had raided 31 locations, including Sisodia's residence, in connection with alleged irregularities in the Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22. "Tomorrow, the CBI is coming to check our bank locker. They did not find anything in a 14-hour-long raid at my residence on August 19. They won't find anything in the locker too. The CBI is welcome. My family and I will extend full cooperation in the probe," the deputy chief minister said in a tweet in Hindi. Sisodia has been saying he has been made an accused in a false case to stop the march of

BJP spent Rs 6,300 cr to topple govts of other parties, claims Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday claimed that the Centre did not have to impose GST on food items if the BJP had not spent a whopping Rs 6,300 crore on toppling governments of other parties in the country. Kejriwal's remarks come a day after his called the BJP a "serial killer of state governments". During his address in the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal also alleged that the BJP is using money collected through GST and hike in petrol and diesel prices to "poach" the MLAs. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor on Saturday also alleged that the people are facing the brunt of price rise with the BJP spending crores of rupees on 'poaching' other parties' MLAs and bringing down their governments in states. In a tweet in Hindi, Kejriwal said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that has been imposed on curd, buttermilk, honey, wheat, rice etc., will fetch Rs 7,500 crore revenue per annum to the central government. "They have spent Rs 6,300 crore so far on toppling governme

Terrorism rearing its head again in AAP-ruled Punjab: Cong's Raghu Sharma

Terrorism is rearing its head again in Punjab after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in the northern state in March, Gujarat Congress in-charge Raghu Sharma alleged on Friday. Seeking to downplay the AAP's entry is Gujarat, where Assembly polls are due by the year-end, Sharma claimed the real fight will be between his party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit does not have any mass base in the western state. "They (AAP) now want to do politics in Gujarat, the land of Mahatma Gandhi. This is the same party which had removed Gandhiji's photos from offices after forming government in Punjab. People are also raising questions over some of the activities of the AAP," he said at a press conference here. "They formed government in Punjab by making attractive promises. But, their government is failing in handling the situation in the state. Terrorism is also rearing its head in Punjab under the AAP government. They only know how to manage ...

Attempt to topple AAP govt shows how dangerous 'Operation Lotus' is: Sena

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on Friday accused the BJP of trying to topple the AAP government in Delhi by using the Enforcement Directorate, and said it shows how dangerous 'Operation Lotus' is for the democracy in the country. The editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana said the BJP was worried about 2024 Lok Sabha elections and scared of rival leaders like Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar. Delhi chief minister Kejriwal on Thursday accused the BJP of trying to topple his government by offering Rs 800 crore to 40 MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party for switching sides. The BJP denied the allegation. This shows how dangerous Operation Lotus is for democracy, Saamana editorial said, adding that raids by investigation agencies and politics of revenge were the biggest weapons of the BJP. The BJP's opponents often use the term 'Operation Lotus' while accusing it of making efforts to topple the state governments run by opposition parties.

Delhi to have 11 new hospitals with over 10,000 beds soon: AAP govt

Delhi will soon have 11 new hospitals that will add more than 10,000 beds to the city's health infrastructure, according to a statement issued by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the public works department (PWD) portfolio, announced this after reviewing various health infrastructure projects on Wednesday. Sisodia reviewed the progress of the construction work for hospitals being built at Siraspur, Jwalapuri, Madipur, Hastsal (Vikaspuri) as well as seven new semi-permanent hospitals with a capacity of 6,838 ICU beds, the statement said. "These 11 new hospitals will give a boost to the health infrastructure of Delhi and lakhs of Delhiites will be able to take advantage of these. With these new hospitals, 10,000-plus hospital beds will be added to the capital's healthcare infrastructure," it added. Officials informed Sisodia that the construction work of all these hospitals will be completed by the end of next year. Of the fo

AAP's pre-poll promises deceptive, Gujarat voters won't trust them: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said the pre-poll promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Gujarat voters were deceptive in nature and the people of the state will not fall for them. The senior Congress observer for Gujarat Assembly polls said the AAP, which insulted Mahatma Gandhi by removing his photographs from Delhi government offices, was now doing election campaigning in the home state of the Father of the Nation. Seeking to downplay the AAP's entry in the Gujarat Assembly elections, due by the year-end, Gehlot exuded confidence the people of the state will not trust the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit's pre-poll "guarantees". In an apparent attack on the AAP government in Delhi, the Congress leader said Those who insulted Mahatma Gandhi by removing his photographs from government offices in their state are now doing poll campaigning in Gujarat, the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel." He was addressing party MLAs, office-bearers and