Page 18 - Aap

Mamata-led Trinamool Congress spent big for Goa polls, drew blank

The Goa assembly elections were keenly fought with the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party throwing their hats in the ring but when it came to poll expenditure, it was the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress that loosened its purse strings spending a whopping Rs 47.54 crore. The BJP, which retained power in Goa with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the helm, spent over Rs 17.75 crore towards election expenditure in the state. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP spent nearly Rs 3.5 crore in Goa, where it tried its luck for the second consecutive assembly elections. The details of the election expenditure were submitted by the respective political parties to the Election Commission recently. The Congress, which was hoping to dislodge the BJP from power in Goa, spent approximately Rs 12 crore on the Goa elections. The Nationalist Congress Party gave Rs 25 lakh each to the 11 candidates it had fielded for the elections, besides spending on the campaign from the party's central fund. The

Every child in Gujarat will prosper if AAP comes to power: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said if people of Gujarat bring the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to power, then every child in the state will prosper. Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann addressed a gathering of youth in Ahmedabad where Kejriwal targeted both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in Gujarat, where the Assembly elections are due in December this year. "I was seeing a wonderful message being shared in a Gujarat WhatsApp group that I follow. It says if you vote for Congress, then Sonia Gandhi's son will prosper. If you vote for BJP, (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah's son will prosper, and if you vote for AAP, then every single child of Gujarat will prosper," the Delhi CM and AAP national convener said. Like the AAP governments provided 12 lakh jobs in Delhi and 20,000 in Punjab in less than six months, the party is committed to provide 10 lakh jobs in Gujarat when it comes to power in the state, he said. Kejriwal again listed the "job calendar" for Gujarat an

Indian National AAP: Kejriwal abhors a vacuum

AAP isn't targeting the BJP but is going after the disillusioned Congress voter. Ideology-free politics is its vulnerability

Satyendar Jain moves Delhi HC challenging transfer of money laundering case

AAP leader and Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday approached the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court's order to transfer the money laundering case against him to another judge. Hours after the trial court's order, the plea was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad which allowed it for listing on Monday. Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Jain, said he was challenging the transfer of matter to another judge as it was illegal. "The transfer (of case) was illegal," Mehra said. As the chief justice sought to know what was the urgency, the senior counsel said the trial court has kept it for hearing on Friday itself and the matter will be heard on a day-to-day basis. Jain has challenged the order of a district judge who, during the day, allowed an application by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking transfer of the money laundering case against Jain to another judge. The agency sought tra

HC holds order on LG's plea to restrain AAP from levelling false allegation

It is alleged that the AAP leaders made false allegations against the daughter of LG that she was given a contract for designing the Khadi Lounge in Mumbai

Delhi court grants bail to AAP MLA Amanatullah's close aide Hamid Ali Khan

A Delhi court on Wednesday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan's close aide Hamid Ali Khan, who was arrested after a raid by the Anti-Corruption Branch last week. According to officials, an unlicensed weapon, Rs 12 lakh cash, and some cartridges were found in Ali's premises. Metropolitan Magistrate Snehil Sharma granted relief to Khan, saying the accused has been in custody since September 16, and no further recovery was effected from him. All the witnesses in the case were police witnesses, and a charge sheet or a supplementary charge sheet in the case will take considerable time, the court said. "...Also accused is well-routed in society and he is no more required for the purpose of investigation related to this case and having regard to the nature of offence and period of punishment this court grants bail to accused Hamid Ali Khan as further custody will not serve any purpose," it said. The court then directed the accused to furnish a bail bond of Rs 25,000,

Manish Sisodia to visit Sabarmati Ashram, participate in 'Parivartan Yatra'

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will visit the Sabarmati Ashram here Wednesday before embarking on the Aam Aadmi Party's campaign in BJP-ruled Gujarat where the Assembly polls are due later this year. After offering prayers at the Sabarmati Ashram, Sisodia will lead a 'Parivartan Yatra' in north Gujarat, AAP state chief Gopal Italia said. He will take part in a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha and will also address gatherings in Taloj and Prantij towns of the district during the day, Italia said. On Tuesday, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a town hall meeting with parents and teachers in Vadodara. Kejriwal called for a "Bharatiya" or indigenous system of education in the country in place of the one inherited from the British. He had also said that India should become a destination for students from all over the world, like the Nalanda University was in ancient times.

BJP's stronghold in Gujarat in trouble because of AAP's influence: Kejriwal

Kejriwal was referring to the protest at Vadodara airport on Tuesday, when a group of forty to fifty persons chanted pro-Modi slogan, "Modi Zindabad" on his arrival.

Oppn says Punjab CM deplaned at Franfkurt for being 'drunk'; AAP denies

The Opposition on Monday targeted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that he was deplaned from a Delhi-bound flight at the Frankfurt airport as he was drunk, a charge denied by the ruling AAP as baseless. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Mann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight because of being in an inebriated state. Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP's national convention. These reports have embarrassed & shamed Punjabis all over the globe, he tweeted. However, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang called the allegations baseless and bogus, and accused the rival parties of indulging in a negative propaganda to defame the chief minister. The allegations are baseless, bogus and false, Kang said and alleged that the opposition parties were spreading canards against the

AAP's MCD poll in-charge Pathak joins ED probe in excise policy scam

In a latest development in connection with the Delhi's excise policy scam, Durgesh Pathak, the AAP's MCD poll in-charge and MLA, on Monday reached ED headquarters.

AAP extends sarcastic bday wish to PM Modi; calls him 'innovator-in-chief'

The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday took a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday, calling him innovator-in-chief, technology geek and scientist par excellence while wishing him a "happy birthday". Modi turned 72 on Saturday. Happy Birthday to the innovator-in-chief, technology geek, scientist par excellence, the one and only - Modi ji, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tweeted from its official handle. Along with its post on the microblogging site, the party also shared old controversial video clips of the prime minister, including the one in which he told a news channel that he had used a digital camera to take a picture for the first time in 1987 or 88 and transmitted it to Delhi at a time when very few people had e-mail. While there was no immediate reaction from the BJP to the AAP's post, several Twitterati reacted sharply to the wishes. AAPIANS should be ashamed of their sarcasm on the auspicious day, S Bhardwaj, a Twitter user, said. Over 3,800 Twitter users had liked

Delhi Waqf Board case: Court sends AAP's Amanatulah Khan to 4-day custody

A Delhi court on Saturday sent AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to four-day custody of the Anti-Corruption Branch in a case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment. Special Judge Vikas Dhull passed the order on a plea moved by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), which said it needed to interrogate Khan for a thorough investigation. In its plea seeking Khan's 14-day custody, the agency claimed that five of Khan's relatives were appointed in the board, while 22 were from Okhla, which he represents. A person whose income is Rs 4.32 lakh is receiving cash worth Rs 4 crore..., the prosecution told the court. It also added that an ACB official was manhandled and slapped during the searches conducted on Friday. The entire team was manhandled and fire arms were recovered, it said. The ACB had on Friday arrested Khan after conducting raids at his premises. They said during the searches, the ACB team was allegedly attacked by Khan's relatives and others known to the Ok

BJP continuing with 'Operation Lotus' to break Kejriwal-led party: AAP

The AAP on Saturday alleged that the arrest of its MLA Amanatullah Khan was part of BJP's efforts to poach Arvind Kejriwal-led party's legislators and topple its government in Delhi under "Operation Lotus". The Aam Aadmi Party legislator from Okhla was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Friday in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi Waqf Board recruitment, officials said. Khan is the chairman of Delhi Waqf Board. "Looks like they are suffering a lot in Gujarat," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi in an apparent attack on the BJP. He also anticipated the arrest of more MLAs of his party in the coming days. "First, they arrested (Delhi health minister) Satyendar Jain. They are not able to present any evidence despite the court repeatedly asking for it. Then, Manish's residence was raided, nothing was found there. Now, Amanatullah has been arrested. More MLAs will now be arrested," the AAP national convenor said in his tweet. Reacting to

Delhi Police arrests AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan's partner under Arms Act

The Delhi Police on Saturday arrested the business partner of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan under the Arms Act.The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raided the premises of AAP MLA and his business partner Hamid Ali on Friday.The ACB has recovered one Breta pistol and several cartridges from Ali's premises. The police also recovered cash of Rs 12 lakh from his house.Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan on Friday in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board corruption case on the basis of the recovery of incriminating material and evidence against him during the conducted searches.A weapon was found at one of the locations. It is learnt that he could not show any license of the recovered arms (Breta Pistol).However, the party came out in defence and said that he was arrested in a "baseless and outright fake" case.The AAP MLA was arrested after the ACB raided four locations related to Khan and his business partner, from where cash and weapons were recovered.The ACB had ..

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested after raids by anti-corruption branch

The Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch on Friday arrested AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with a graft case, officials said. The ACB is probing alleged irregularities in the recruitment in the Delhi Waqf Board, which Khan heads as the chairman. The ACB on Friday conducted searches at Khan's house and other premises linked to him and seized Rs 24 lakh as well as two unlicensed weapons, the officials said. The ACB had issued a notice to Khan on Thursday for questioning in connection with the Prevention of Corruption Act case registered in 2020. The Okhla MLA was called for questioning at 12 pm on Friday. Khan, the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, had tweeted about the notice, claiming he has been summoned as he built a new Waqf board office. A senior official said the searches were conducted on Friday at the house of Khan and his other locations. A total of Rs 24 lakh in cash, two unlicensed weapon and some cartridges were seized, the official said. Earlier, the ACB had written

Opposition slams Punjab AAP govt over promises, says faltered on key issues

The opposition parties on Friday slammed the ruling AAP government in Punjab on the completion of its six months, accusing it of "selling" dreams to people while failing to fulfil promises. The Congress took on the Bhagwant Mann government over its anti-corruption crusade, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa saying the helpline launched for it has remained shut for the past few weeks. Addressing separate press conferences here, Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma and Bajwa hit out at the AAP government over non-fulfilment of promises and law and order. Both Sharma and Bajwa said the AAP government's tall promises exist only in newspaper advertisements. On the other hand, Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal said the AAP government faltered on key issues. Referring to newspaper advertisements issued by the Punjab government on Friday, Bajwa said the Mann government immediately after coming to power sacked its own minister Vijay Singla for corruption on the basis of an a

Deshbhakti module strengthening children to be successful in life: Sisodia

The 'Deshbhakti' curriculum in Delhi government schools is giving strength to the children to be successful in life and inspiring them to focus on their careers, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday. Sisodia was on a visit to a government school in RK Puram on Friday to assess the impact of the curriculum on children. This was his third consecutive visit to a government school in the last three days. "Many children have shared that the Deshbhakti class is also giving them the inspiration to prepare better for the exam and work diligently on their careers," he said. The Delhi government's ambitious curriculum was launched on September 28, 2021, by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. As part of the curriculum, children meditate for five minutes and then think about any five patriots every day. Thereafter, they share their thoughts with their classmates, Sisodia said.

Kejriwal running university of lies: Delhi BJP on AAP's landfill sites plan

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is running a "university of lies", Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta alleged on Friday following AAP's claim that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was planning to create 16 more landfill sites here for dumping garbage. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal had earlier said the BJP wanted to convert Delhi into "a city of garbage mountains", and claimed that the MCD has plans to create 16 more garbage dumps in the city. The BJP, which ruled the three municipal corporations for nearly 15 years, hit back and accused Kejriwal and his MLAs of spreading lies. The three municipal corporations whose term ended in May this year were unified by the Centre. The AAP and the BJP have been engaged in a verbal dual over the issue since then. Kejriwal said people living near the three existing landfill sites were already facing problems, including stench and unhygienic conditions, and added that people were totally against any more garbage dumps here. Several AAP leade

Centre should do good things instead of harassing people with CBI: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he has failed to understand what the liquor scam was about, and advised the Centre to do positive things for progress of the country instead of "harassing" everyone with CBI and ED. His remarks came amid raids by the Enforcement Directorate at 40 locations across the country in connection with alleged irregularities in implementation of Excise Policy 2021-22 of the AAP government in Delhi. "I have till date not been able to understand what this liquor scam is. One of their (BJP) leaders said it is a scam of Rs 1.5 lakh crore. How can it be a scam of Rs 1.5 lakh crore when the whole budget of Delhi is Rs 70,000 crore only? "Another of their leaders said it was a Rs 8,000 crore scam, yet another said it was a Rs 1,100 crore scam. The L-G said it was a Rs 144 crore scam, while the CBI said it was a Rs 1 crore scam," Kejriwal said in a press conference. He said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during its raid at his deputy .

Excise policy scam: ED questions Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in Tihar

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday questioned Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain inside the Tihar jail in a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped excise policy, official sources said. Officials of the agency recorded Jain's statement according to the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED had moved a local court seeking its permission for the questioning. The court authorised the probe agency to carry out questioning on September 16, 22 and 23. Jain was arrested by the ED on May 30 in another criminal case linked to alleged hawala dealings. A minister without a portfolio in the Delhi government, Jain had held health and power portfolios before he was taken into custody by the ED. The sources said the agency wants to know and understand from Jain about the cabinet approvals given by the AAP government for implementing the new excise policy. The policy implemented on November 17, 2021, was scrapped by Ch