Page 37 - Aap

ED issues 5th summons to Kejriwal in excise policy money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh and the fifth summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his questioning in the Delhi excise policy linked money laundering case, official sources said Wednesday. Kejriwal, also the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has skipped four earlier summons issued by the federal agency for January 18 and January 3 and November 2 and December 21 in 2023. He had called these notices "illegal". It is understood that the fresh summons was for February 2. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Set to be sworn in as RS MP, Maliwal says not scared of questioning govt

As Swati Maliwal becomes the latest AAP Rajya Sabha MP amid opposition leaders' allegations of a witch hunt against them, the former DCW chief said her family is scared about her foray into active politics, but she asserted that she is not scared to question the government or go to the jail for it. In an interview with PTI at her residence, Maliwal, who is set to take oath as MP on Wednesday, said the moment when formally assumes office will be the "most profound" and "important" occasion of her life. "I am very excited. As a first-time MP, I have a huge responsibility. I feel that I have always been an activist, and will continue to remain one. I will raise grassroots issues and I am looking forward to it," she told PTI, a day before she is to take oath. Maliwal said she is proud of what she has accomplished so far from her beginnings as the youngest core committee member of the India Against Corruption' movement to becoming the chief of the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) and n

Chandigarh Mayor Election Result: BJP defeats AAP-Congress alliance, controversy erupts

Cheating in broad daylight: Kejriwal reacts to BJP's victory in Chandigarh

Arvind Kejriwal said that if the BJP could 'stoop so low' in mayoral elections, it could go to any extent to win the Lok Sabha elections

AAP will contest all Assembly seats in Haryana on its own: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his party will contest all the 90 assembly seats in Haryana on its own, but the Lok Sabha polls will be fought as part of the INDIA bloc. The Lok Sabha polls are due in April-May while the assembly elections will be held later this year a few months after the general elections. "Today people only have trust in one party, which is the Aam Aadmi Party. On one side, they see Punjab, and on the other, our government in Delhi. Today Haryana is seeking a big change. In Delhi and Punjab, people made this big change earlier and now people there are happy," he said at his party's 'Badlaav Jansabha' in Jind. The AAP will contest all the 90 assembly seats in Haryana on its own, but the Lok Sabha polls will be fought as part of the INDIA bloc, Kejriwal said. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was also present at the event.

Nitish Kumar's INDIA exit buzz grows, Rahul Gandhi takes stock in Delhi

This came a day after the Trinamool Congres (TMC) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ruled out any seat adjustment with the Congress in West Bengal and Punjab, respectively, in a big setback to the alliance

INDIA bloc was never meant to work: AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also said it has to be seen "who all exits" the alliance over the course of time

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Big blow for INDIA bloc as AAP, TMC to contest without Congress

Chinks in INDIA bloc as TMC, AAP rule out seat sharing in Bengal and Punjab

The constituents of the INDIA bloc were expected to contest against each other in Kerala, but two more states, Bengal and Punjab, have now been added to the list

No strikes, criticism on social media by employees: MCD's education dept

The MCD's Education Department in the Rohini zone has issued a directive to its teachers and staff putting a ban on engaging in any strikes demonstrations or criticism on social media against it, according to an official notification. Strict action would be taken against any staff indulging in such activities, it said. "If any employee is found indulging/participating in any form of strike/mass casual leave/boycott of work etc or adversely criticising the department on social media and press, strict action may be initiated against the defaulter," the notice dated January 22 read. The notice said such activities are a violation of CCS, Conduct Rules, 1964. Calls and texts were sent to Rishi Pal Rana, deputy director, education, Rohini Zone, MCD but no response was received. In the notice addressed to head of schools of all schools, the department directed its employees to get disassociated from unrecognised associations, saying they were maligning the image of the department on soc

Saurabh Bhardwaj making false statements on Delhi slums: Delhi L-G's office

The LG on his part, after his last visit to the shelters last year, had flagged the lack of basic amenities and hygiene, in them and asked for the same to be rectified

AAP brought Punjab to brink, 85% fall in investment is alarming: BJP

"Reports appearing in the media suggested that there was more than an 85 percent decline in the investments coming to the state, which was a cause for alarm for Punjab, "Chugh told ANI

Ram temple event Highlights: Nadda gets invite, to visit after Jan 22

As the Ram temple consecration draws closer, Delhi government has announced that it will organise a three-day Ramlila program starting Saturday, January 20

Delhi missing deadline to treat sewage makes Yamuna cleaning goal tough

Having missed the December 2023 deadline to treat all the sewage generated in the city, a crucial step towards cleaning the Yamuna, the Delhi government now strives to achieve the target by March this year, according to a new report prepared by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The delay means that cleaning the Yamuna to bathing standards by February 2025, a key promise made by the AAP government, has proven to be more challenging than the government had expected. According to the report presented on January 10 before the High-Level Committee on Yamuna Rejuvenation, set up by the National Green Tribunal, Delhi has increased its sewage treatment capacity by 35 million gallons a day since January 2023. The city generates 792 million gallons a day (MGD) of sewage, only 667 MGD of which can be technically treated by the 37 Sewage Treatment Plants, or STPs, set up in the capital. At present, these STPs utilise only 71 per cent of their installed capacity, treating only 565 M

Ahead of Ram temple consecration, Delhi govt to organise 3-day Ramlila

Ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony, the Delhi government on Friday announced it will organise a three-day Ramlila from Saturday. The announcement triggered a slugfest between the AAP and the BJP, with the ruling party claiming that the Centre denied permission to hold the event at the Bharat Mandapam and the opposition party saying the venue is not allotted for religious events. From Saturday, a grand three-day Ramlila event is being organised. The special Ramlila that will go on till January 22 at the Pearey Lal Auditorium near ITO is free for everyone, a Delhi government statement said. The 'Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra' will present the live three-hour Ramlila performance from 4 pm to 7 pm, it said. The conclusion of the event will coincide with the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Thousands of dignitaries from across fields, including political leaders, have been invited to the ceremony. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, however, has said he

ED summons 'illegal', BJP wants to stop me from campaigning: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the ED summonses issued to him were "illegal" and part of a political conspiracy to stop him from campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He alleged that the entire exercise of serving him summons was being carried out to arrest him before the high-octane polls, expected in April-May. The chief minister said he was issued a summons by the Enforcement Directorate last week for the fourth time, and asked him to appear before the agency on January 18 or January 19. "The BJP is running the ED. They only intend to arrest me so that I cannot campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," he said. Kejriwal said he had sent his reply to the central agency. "The four notices sent me are illegal in the eyes of the law. Such general, non-specific notices have been quashed in the past by the courts. I have repeatedly written to the ED saying the notices are illegal but they have not replied to me," he told reporters on the sidelines

Haryana AAP leader Ashok Tanwar quits, cites party's 'alignment' with Cong

In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Haryana, senior leader Ashok Tanwar quit the party on Thursday, expressing displeasure with its alignment with the Congress. In a letter to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Tanwar wrote, "In view of the current political scenario and your alignment with the Indian National Congress, my ethics won't allow me to continue as chairman, Election Campaign Committee, Aam Aadmi Party Haryana." "Therefore, kindly accept my resignation from primary membership and all other responsibilities of the Aam Aadmi Party," he added. Tanwar further said that he would continue to work for the betterment of the state of Haryana, "Bharat" and its people. "As a responsible citizen of this country and being into active politics since my student days, I have always believed in our Constitution, the country and its people first," he added. Tanwar's resignation came as another setback to the AAP in Haryana as two of its senior leaders, former minister Nirmal

Delhi Forest dept fails to submit report on CM house, NGT slaps Rs 15K fine

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a cost of Rs 15,000 on the Delhi forest department for the non-submission of a proper report by a panel formed earlier to find the factual position regarding the alleged violations of green norms at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. The NGT also directed the Delhi government and its public works department (PWD) to pay a cost of Rs 10,000 each for not submitting their reports according to the tribunal's earlier directions. The NGT was hearing a petition that alleged the raising of permanent and semi-permanent constructions and the felling of more than 20 trees for developing structures at 6, Flag Staff Road (the chief minister's residence) and 45-47, Rajpur Road (properties adjoining it). In May last year, the tribunal formed a joint committee for ascertaining the factual position. The committee comprised the chief secretary and principal secretary (environment and forest) of Delhi, a nominee of the Delhi Urban Art Commission .

PM Modi's degree row: SC stays defamation proceedings against AAP leaders

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the proceedings before a trial court on a defamation complaint filed by the Gujarat University against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP MP Sanjay Singh for their alleged remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualification. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta passed the order while hearing Singh's plea seeking a transfer of the case pending before a trial court in Gujarat outside the state, preferably in Kolkata. The apex court asked the Gujarat High Court to take a decision within four weeks on a plea filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders seeking quashing of the summonses issued to them by the trial court. The bench said in the meantime, the proceedings before the trial court will remain stayed. Singh, in his plea filed in the top court through advocate Karan Sharma, had alleged bias in the proceedings before the trial court, saying while the plea was pending before the high court, the trial judge w

SAD leader Majithia appears before special SIT in Patiala in drugs case

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday appeared before a special investigation team of the Punjab Police in Patiala district in a drugs case. The former minister was summoned by the SIT led by Deputy Inspector General (Patiala range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar. Tight security arrangements were made around the police lines in Patiala ahead of the appearance of Majithia before the SIT. Several Akali workers had gathered at the spot to express solidarity with Majithia. Majithia was previously questioned by the SIT, led by the then additional director general of police Mukhwinder Singh Chhina, on December 30, 2023 in connection with the drugs case. Before that he was grilled by the SIT on December 18. The Punjab Police formed a new SIT under the chairmanship of Bhullar after Chhina retired on December 31. Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on December 20, 2021, when the then chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led .