News Analysis India

Tag: aap

  • ED raids on Sanjay Singh show BJP resorting to desperate measures, says Delhi CM Kejriwal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the ED raids on AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s residence showed that the BJP was resorting to desperate measures as it stares at a defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Many such raids will take place but there is nothing to be scared of, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener said.

    READ MORE | ED targeting Sanjay Singh for raising Adani matter in Parliament: AAP 

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday morning raided AAP MP Sanjay Singh’s home in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy, officials said. Premises of some others connected to the case are also being covered, they said.

    “They have been probing the alleged liquor scam for the last year but nothing has been found yet. Nothing will be found at Sanjay Singh’s residence. When someone is staring at defeat, they resort to desperate measures. That is what is happening right now,” Kejriwal told reporters during his visit to the Okhla landfill site. The chief minister said such raids will only increase as the election nears.”

    ED, CBI, I-T and police agencies will become active as the elections come closer. Yesterday, it was journalists and today, it is Sanjay Singh. Many such raids will happen. But there is no need to be scared,” he added.

    On the Supreme Court hearing his former deputy Manish Sisodia’s bail plea, Kejriwal said, “The blessings of children are with him. We hope he will get justice from the Supreme Court today.”

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the ED raids on AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s residence showed that the BJP was resorting to desperate measures as it stares at a defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Many such raids will take place but there is nothing to be scared of, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener said.

    READ MORE | ED targeting Sanjay Singh for raising Adani matter in Parliament: AAP googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday morning raided AAP MP Sanjay Singh’s home in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy, officials said. Premises of some others connected to the case are also being covered, they said.

    “They have been probing the alleged liquor scam for the last year but nothing has been found yet. Nothing will be found at Sanjay Singh’s residence. When someone is staring at defeat, they resort to desperate measures. That is what is happening right now,” Kejriwal told reporters during his visit to the Okhla landfill site. The chief minister said such raids will only increase as the election nears.”

    ED, CBI, I-T and police agencies will become active as the elections come closer. Yesterday, it was journalists and today, it is Sanjay Singh. Many such raids will happen. But there is no need to be scared,” he added.

    On the Supreme Court hearing his former deputy Manish Sisodia’s bail plea, Kejriwal said, “The blessings of children are with him. We hope he will get justice from the Supreme Court today.”

  • ED targeting Sanjay Singh for raising Adani matter in Parliament: AAP 

    Singh kept on raising questions on the issue of Adani and this is why the raids are being conducted at his residence, AAP spokesperson said. NEW DELHI: The AAP on Wednesday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has ‘targeted’ their Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh as he raised issues related to the Adani Group in Parliament.

    The party was reacting to the ED raids on the premises of Singh in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, officials said.

    “Sanjay Singh kept on raising questions on the issue of Adani and this is why the raids are being conducted at his residence. The central agencies found nothing earlier and won’t find anything today either.

    #WATCH | Delhi: On ED raids at the residence of AAP MP Sanjay Singh, National Spokesperson AAP Reena Gupta says “Since Sanjay Singh was continuously raising questions on the issue of PM Modi and Adani, this is the reason why raids are being conducted at his residence. Nothing was… pic.twitter.com/7USX2JhIhW
    — ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2023

    First, they conducted raids at the residence of some journalists yesterday and today, raids were conducted at Sanjay Singh’s residence,” AAP spokesperson Reena Gupta said.

    Sanjay Singh’s father Dinesh Singh said they are cooperating with the ED.

    The ED is doing its job. I don’t know the exact time but around 7:30 am they came to conduct raids. I told ED officials they could conduct raids until late at night, we don’t want them to visit again and again,” he said

    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 strongly refuted by the AAP.

    The policy was subsequently scrapped and the Delhi lieutenant governor recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the PMLA.

    Singh had demanded a probe into the allegations against the Adani Group. US-based firm Hindenburg Research had alleged that the Adani Group had engaged in brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The Adani Group has denied all allegations.

  • ‘Won’t break away’: Kejriwal reaffirms AAP’s commitment to ‘INDIA’ amid Sukhpal row in Punjab

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party is committed to the opposition INDIA alliance and will not break away from it.

    His comments assume significance against the backdrop of the Congress’ Punjab unit accusing the AAP government in the state of indulging in political vendetta following the arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a 2015 drug trafficking case.

    The AAP has, however, rejected the allegation saying the action against the Bholath legislator was taken according to the law.

    At a press conference here on Friday, Kejriwal, who is the national convener of the AAP, was asked about the future of the INDIA alliance following the arrest of the Congress legislator in Punjab.

    “The AAP is committed towards the INDIA alliance. We will not break away from the alliance. We are committed to fulfilling the dharma of the alliance,” he said.

    About the case, Kejriwal said, “I have heard about it but I don’t have details. You will have to talk to the Punjab Police.”

    “The Bhagwant Mann government is committed to ending the drug menace in the state since it has destroyed the youth. Be it an influential person or a small-time person, no one will be spared. I am not commenting on any particular incident since the details are not with me,” he said.

    Asked about the opposition INDIA alliance not projecting a prime ministerial candidate yet, Kejriwal said, “We have to prepare a system so that the 140 crore people of India feel they are prime minister. We have to empower people and not one person,” he said.

    The Punjab Congress has already opposed any alliance with the ruling AAP in the state for the 2024 general elections.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party is committed to the opposition INDIA alliance and will not break away from it.

    His comments assume significance against the backdrop of the Congress’ Punjab unit accusing the AAP government in the state of indulging in political vendetta following the arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a 2015 drug trafficking case.

    The AAP has, however, rejected the allegation saying the action against the Bholath legislator was taken according to the law.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    At a press conference here on Friday, Kejriwal, who is the national convener of the AAP, was asked about the future of the INDIA alliance following the arrest of the Congress legislator in Punjab.

    “The AAP is committed towards the INDIA alliance. We will not break away from the alliance. We are committed to fulfilling the dharma of the alliance,” he said.

    About the case, Kejriwal said, “I have heard about it but I don’t have details. You will have to talk to the Punjab Police.”

    “The Bhagwant Mann government is committed to ending the drug menace in the state since it has destroyed the youth. Be it an influential person or a small-time person, no one will be spared. I am not commenting on any particular incident since the details are not with me,” he said.

    Asked about the opposition INDIA alliance not projecting a prime ministerial candidate yet, Kejriwal said, “We have to prepare a system so that the 140 crore people of India feel they are prime minister. We have to empower people and not one person,” he said.

    The Punjab Congress has already opposed any alliance with the ruling AAP in the state for the 2024 general elections.

  • Delhi Services Bill passed in Rajya Sabha

    By Online Desk

    The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 131 votes.

    102 opposition MPs voted against the Delhi Bill.

    #WATCH | Rajya Sabha passes Delhi Services Bill with Ayes-131, Noes-102. pic.twitter.com/9Zv4jzi8IF
    — ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2023
    The Delhi Services Bill seeks to replace the existing central government’s ordinance on the transfer and posting of officers. The ordinance was brought in just days after the Supreme Court gave executive powers to the Delhi government in service matters. 

    The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on August 3.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Rajya Sabha today amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs over the Manipur issue.

    The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 131 votes.

    102 opposition MPs voted against the Delhi Bill.

    #WATCH | Rajya Sabha passes Delhi Services Bill with Ayes-131, Noes-102. pic.twitter.com/9Zv4jzi8IFgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2023
    The Delhi Services Bill seeks to replace the existing central government’s ordinance on the transfer and posting of officers. The ordinance was brought in just days after the Supreme Court gave executive powers to the Delhi government in service matters. 

    The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on August 3.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Rajya Sabha today amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs over the Manipur issue.

  • 26 Opposition parties to attend two-day brainstorming session on July 17-18 to take on BJP in 2024

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they will chalk out their strategy to unitedly fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to sources.

    On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress clarified that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks.

    Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. “This time we are expecting leaders of 26 parties,” a source said.

    The opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence that claimed many lives with state units of the Congress and Left parties accusing the TMC government of oppression.

    The sources said the opposition parties will chart out a joint agitational plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra.

    They said that the leaders will announce steps to further opposition unity to take on the BJP and “expose its attempts at toppling opposition governments and taking control over non-BJP-ruled states through the Governors.”

    “It will be a decisive meeting. Several issues will be discussed,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said.

    The BJP, however, hit out at the opposition parties, alleging that they are a “divided lot” and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    BJP president JP Nadda alleged that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to “protect” their dynastic politics. The proposed coalition is not a “Patriotic Democratic Alliance” but a “Protection of Dynasties Alliance”, he said in Jaipur.

    CPI general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition’s joint resolve to defeat the BJP. “The Bengaluru meeting will be another step forward in uniting the secular and democratic parties in order to defeat the BJP and in order to save the nation and democracy,” Raja told PTI.

    Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

    Other top leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    “Today, the Congress party cleared its position against Delhi Ordinance. We welcome the announcement. Along with this, AAP will attend the opposition meet in Bengaluru,” says AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.

    The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to firm up their unity plans and announce their further programme.

    A senior leader said opposition parties would have to iron out their differences if they have to take on the might of the BJP.

    The BJP alleged it was a meeting by a “fractured” Opposition and that “desperation ad confusion” has gripped the Congress with its central leadership going against the state units.

    “‘Disunited Congress’ holding fractured ‘Opposition Meeting’ in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress,” BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted.

    “On the issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said ‘AAP doesn’t deserve Congress Support’. Congress leader Mr Maken said ‘Congress should not support AAP’. Today, Cong Gen Secy KC Venugopal says ‘Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP’. Political desperation and confusion grips Congress,” Shergill continued.

    He alleged that the Congress has become AAP’s ‘spare wheel.”

    “‘Hate for PM Modi’ only glue for Opposition Unity. No agenda, no ideology and no leader – Only lust for power,” the BJP leader said.

    NEW DELHI: Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they will chalk out their strategy to unitedly fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to sources.

    On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress clarified that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks.

    Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. “This time we are expecting leaders of 26 parties,” a source said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence that claimed many lives with state units of the Congress and Left parties accusing the TMC government of oppression.

    The sources said the opposition parties will chart out a joint agitational plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra.

    They said that the leaders will announce steps to further opposition unity to take on the BJP and “expose its attempts at toppling opposition governments and taking control over non-BJP-ruled states through the Governors.”

    “It will be a decisive meeting. Several issues will be discussed,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said.

    The BJP, however, hit out at the opposition parties, alleging that they are a “divided lot” and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    BJP president JP Nadda alleged that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to “protect” their dynastic politics. The proposed coalition is not a “Patriotic Democratic Alliance” but a “Protection of Dynasties Alliance”, he said in Jaipur.

    CPI general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition’s joint resolve to defeat the BJP. “The Bengaluru meeting will be another step forward in uniting the secular and democratic parties in order to defeat the BJP and in order to save the nation and democracy,” Raja told PTI.

    Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

    Other top leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    “Today, the Congress party cleared its position against Delhi Ordinance. We welcome the announcement. Along with this, AAP will attend the opposition meet in Bengaluru,” says AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.

    The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to firm up their unity plans and announce their further programme.

    A senior leader said opposition parties would have to iron out their differences if they have to take on the might of the BJP.

    The BJP alleged it was a meeting by a “fractured” Opposition and that “desperation ad confusion” has gripped the Congress with its central leadership going against the state units.

    “‘Disunited Congress’ holding fractured ‘Opposition Meeting’ in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress,” BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted.

    “On the issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said ‘AAP doesn’t deserve Congress Support’. Congress leader Mr Maken said ‘Congress should not support AAP’. Today, Cong Gen Secy KC Venugopal says ‘Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP’. Political desperation and confusion grips Congress,” Shergill continued.

    He alleged that the Congress has become AAP’s ‘spare wheel.”

    “‘Hate for PM Modi’ only glue for Opposition Unity. No agenda, no ideology and no leader – Only lust for power,” the BJP leader said.

  • AAP to attend opposition meet after Congress backs fight against Centre’s services ordinance

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will attend a meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, party leader Raghav Chadha announced on Sunday.

    After a meeting of the AAP’s highest decision-making body — political affairs committee (PAC) — at the party’s national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence here, Chadha also welcomed the Congress’ decision to oppose in Parliament the Centre’s ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

    The AAP had earlier said it would join the meeting in Bengaluru only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.

    After the PAC deliberations, Chadha announced that the AAP under the leadership of Kejriwal will participate in the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, beginning with a dinner on Monday.

    This will be the second meeting of more than a dozen opposition parties as they seek to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In their first meeting in Patna, they resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will attend a meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, party leader Raghav Chadha announced on Sunday.

    After a meeting of the AAP’s highest decision-making body — political affairs committee (PAC) — at the party’s national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence here, Chadha also welcomed the Congress’ decision to oppose in Parliament the Centre’s ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

    The AAP had earlier said it would join the meeting in Bengaluru only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    After the PAC deliberations, Chadha announced that the AAP under the leadership of Kejriwal will participate in the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, beginning with a dinner on Monday.

    This will be the second meeting of more than a dozen opposition parties as they seek to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In their first meeting in Patna, they resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

  • Kharge calls meeting to discuss support for AAP over Centre’s ordinance on Delhi services

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders on May 29 to discuss whether the party needs to support Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Centre’s ordinance to negate the Supreme Court judgement on placing ‘services’ under the control of the state government in the national capital.

    According to party sources, Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders to discuss the issue on May 29 at 10.30 a.m.

    The meeting comes in the wake of the request from Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi over the ordinance issue.

    In a tweet on Friday, Kejriwal said, “Sought time this morning to meet Congress President Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss the general assault on the federal structure and prevailing political situation.”

    After the request from the AAP leader, Congress sources on Friday said that the party is still considering his request.

    On Monday night, Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said, “The Congress Party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgment on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to the appointment of officers. It will consult its state units and other like-minded parties on the same. The Party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party.”

    Many Congress leaders from Delhi and Punjab have opposed supporting Kejriwal over the issue. Senior Congress leaders like Ajay Maken, Sandeep Dikshit and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had already echoed that the party should not support AAP.

    Kejriwal has already met Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal(U) leader Nitish Kumar along with his deputy and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on May 21. Both the leaders have announced to support the AAP over the ordinance issue.

    On Tuesday, Kejriwal travelled to West Bengal to meet his counterpart and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and seek her support. Banerjee also announced her support for the AAP leader.

    The AAP leaders also travelled to Maharashtra and met former chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar separately. Both leaders have also extended their support to Kejriwal’s party.

    Kejriwal is also supposed to travel to Hyderabad to meet Bharath Rashtra Samithi leader and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seeking his support over the issue on Saturday.

    Kejriwal has last week urged the opposition parties to not let the Bill over the ordinance to pass in Rajya Sabha for the people of Delhi.

    The Central government has brought an ordinance to set up a permanent authority known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority whose chairperson will be Delhi chief minister, who, along with the chief secretary, Delhi, Principal Secretary (Home), Delhi, will make recommendations to the Delhi L-G regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters. However, in case of a difference of opinion, the decision of the L-G shall be final.

    ALSO READ | AAP slams Delhi Congress for ‘politics of convenience’ on Centre’s ordinance on Delhi services

    On May 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected Delhi government should have control over its officers and the L-G is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land. The top court stressed that if the government is not able to control and hold to account the officers posted in its service, then its responsibility towards the legislature, as well as the public, is diluted.

    The ordinance came after the apex court gave the Delhi government control in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers.

    NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders on May 29 to discuss whether the party needs to support Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Centre’s ordinance to negate the Supreme Court judgement on placing ‘services’ under the control of the state government in the national capital.

    According to party sources, Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders to discuss the issue on May 29 at 10.30 a.m.

    The meeting comes in the wake of the request from Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi over the ordinance issue.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In a tweet on Friday, Kejriwal said, “Sought time this morning to meet Congress President Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss the general assault on the federal structure and prevailing political situation.”

    After the request from the AAP leader, Congress sources on Friday said that the party is still considering his request.

    On Monday night, Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said, “The Congress Party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgment on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to the appointment of officers. It will consult its state units and other like-minded parties on the same. The Party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party.”

    Many Congress leaders from Delhi and Punjab have opposed supporting Kejriwal over the issue. Senior Congress leaders like Ajay Maken, Sandeep Dikshit and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had already echoed that the party should not support AAP.

    Kejriwal has already met Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal(U) leader Nitish Kumar along with his deputy and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on May 21. Both the leaders have announced to support the AAP over the ordinance issue.

    On Tuesday, Kejriwal travelled to West Bengal to meet his counterpart and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and seek her support. Banerjee also announced her support for the AAP leader.

    The AAP leaders also travelled to Maharashtra and met former chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar separately. Both leaders have also extended their support to Kejriwal’s party.

    Kejriwal is also supposed to travel to Hyderabad to meet Bharath Rashtra Samithi leader and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seeking his support over the issue on Saturday.

    Kejriwal has last week urged the opposition parties to not let the Bill over the ordinance to pass in Rajya Sabha for the people of Delhi.

    The Central government has brought an ordinance to set up a permanent authority known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority whose chairperson will be Delhi chief minister, who, along with the chief secretary, Delhi, Principal Secretary (Home), Delhi, will make recommendations to the Delhi L-G regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters. However, in case of a difference of opinion, the decision of the L-G shall be final.

    ALSO READ | AAP slams Delhi Congress for ‘politics of convenience’ on Centre’s ordinance on Delhi services

    On May 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected Delhi government should have control over its officers and the L-G is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land. The top court stressed that if the government is not able to control and hold to account the officers posted in its service, then its responsibility towards the legislature, as well as the public, is diluted.

    The ordinance came after the apex court gave the Delhi government control in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers.

  • After Trinamool, AAP to boycott inauguration of new Parliament building

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced that it will boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28 as not inviting President Droupadi Murmu is an insult to her.

    In a tweet, AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh said: “Not inviting her Excellency President Droupadi Murmu for inauguration of Parliament House is a gross insult to her. This is also an insult to Dalit, tribal and derived class of the society. AAP will boycott the inauguration orogramme in protest of (Prime Minister) Modi not inviting the President”.

    Earlier in the day, the Trinamool Congress announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

    In a tweet, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien said: “Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules – it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesn’t get that. For him, Sunday’s inauguration of the new building is all about I, me, myself. So count us out”.

    The Trinamool has already raised objections about the choice of date of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. According to the leadership, the occasion of inauguration of the new building should be on the occasion of the Independence Day on August 15, instead of May 28 which is the occasion of the birth anniversary of RSS patriarch VD Savarkar.

    According to the Trinamool leadership, the Union government has also kept the opposition in the dark over the fate of the old Parliament building.

    Even Congress is likely to boycott the inauguration of the new building. Party sources said that a decision is likely to be taken on Wednesday or Thursday.

    On Tuesday, Congress General secretary communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh also responded to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and said, “SUV – Self-Usurped Vishwaguru – has already annexe-d the Parliament for self-aggrandisement. But surely, there is a fundamental difference between inaugurating an Annexe where officials work and a library which is hardly used on the one hand, and inaugurating not just the Temple of Democracy but its sanctorum itself.”

    He was responding to Puri’s remarks that in August 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe, and later in 1987 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Library.

    A row has erupted on the inauguration of new Parliament building after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi demanded that President Murmu should inaugurate the new Parliament House instead of PM Modi.

    A war of words has erupted between Congress and the BJP over the inauguration of the New Parliament House by PM Modi on May 28.

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced that it will boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28 as not inviting President Droupadi Murmu is an insult to her.

    In a tweet, AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh said: “Not inviting her Excellency President Droupadi Murmu for inauguration of Parliament House is a gross insult to her. This is also an insult to Dalit, tribal and derived class of the society. AAP will boycott the inauguration orogramme in protest of (Prime Minister) Modi not inviting the President”.

    Earlier in the day, the Trinamool Congress announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In a tweet, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien said: “Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules – it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesn’t get that. For him, Sunday’s inauguration of the new building is all about I, me, myself. So count us out”.

    The Trinamool has already raised objections about the choice of date of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. According to the leadership, the occasion of inauguration of the new building should be on the occasion of the Independence Day on August 15, instead of May 28 which is the occasion of the birth anniversary of RSS patriarch VD Savarkar.

    According to the Trinamool leadership, the Union government has also kept the opposition in the dark over the fate of the old Parliament building.

    Even Congress is likely to boycott the inauguration of the new building. Party sources said that a decision is likely to be taken on Wednesday or Thursday.

    On Tuesday, Congress General secretary communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh also responded to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and said, “SUV – Self-Usurped Vishwaguru – has already annexe-d the Parliament for self-aggrandisement. But surely, there is a fundamental difference between inaugurating an Annexe where officials work and a library which is hardly used on the one hand, and inaugurating not just the Temple of Democracy but its sanctorum itself.”

    He was responding to Puri’s remarks that in August 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe, and later in 1987 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Library.

    A row has erupted on the inauguration of new Parliament building after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi demanded that President Murmu should inaugurate the new Parliament House instead of PM Modi.

    A war of words has erupted between Congress and the BJP over the inauguration of the New Parliament House by PM Modi on May 28.

  • Sisodia quits Delhi govt after SC rejects his bail plea, Jain follows suit

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Hours after the Supreme Court refused to entertain Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s petition challenging his arrest by the CBI in the liquor policy scam, he and other incarcerated colleague Satyendar Jain resigned as ministers in the AAP government. 

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accepted the resignations. In a late-night announcement, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot was given additional charge of finance, PWD, power and home held by Sisodia. The outgoing deputy CM’s other portfolios like education, health and services were allotted to Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand as additional charge.

    “The work of Delhi should not be interrupted, so Kejriwal accepted the resignations,” said AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Sisodia’s resignation came a couple of days after his arrest while Jain put in his papers almost eight months after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to money laundering.

    Sisodia was handling 18 of the total 33 departments of the Delhi government. He was directly monitoring several critical government projects, including streetscaping and traffic decongestion plans, ahead of the G20 summit. He was also the administrative face of the government.

    In the SC, when counsel A M Singhvi mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha, they said Sisodia has alternative remedies for getting the FIR quashed under Section 482 CrPC. He can also apply for bail in a lower court, the bench said. “Just because an incident happens in Delhi doesn’t mean we are approached. It will set a very wrong precedent,” Justice Narasimha said.

    Singhvi argued that “The allegation is that there was policy decision taken where he (Sisodia) was one rung out of the seven, including the L-G. Power of arrest does not mean compulsion to arrest.”

    Blow to AAP national expansion? Sisodia’s arrest and resignation could affect the AAP’s national expansion plans ahead of the 2024 LS polls. The BJP hopes it will tie down Kejriwal to Delhi and Punjab

    NEW DELHI:  Hours after the Supreme Court refused to entertain Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s petition challenging his arrest by the CBI in the liquor policy scam, he and other incarcerated colleague Satyendar Jain resigned as ministers in the AAP government. 

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accepted the resignations. In a late-night announcement, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot was given additional charge of finance, PWD, power and home held by Sisodia. The outgoing deputy CM’s other portfolios like education, health and services were allotted to Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand as additional charge.

    “The work of Delhi should not be interrupted, so Kejriwal accepted the resignations,” said AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Sisodia’s resignation came a couple of days after his arrest while Jain put in his papers almost eight months after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to money laundering.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Sisodia was handling 18 of the total 33 departments of the Delhi government. He was directly monitoring several critical government projects, including streetscaping and traffic decongestion plans, ahead of the G20 summit. He was also the administrative face of the government.

    In the SC, when counsel A M Singhvi mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha, they said Sisodia has alternative remedies for getting the FIR quashed under Section 482 CrPC. He can also apply for bail in a lower court, the bench said. “Just because an incident happens in Delhi doesn’t mean we are approached. It will set a very wrong precedent,” Justice Narasimha said.

    Singhvi argued that “The allegation is that there was policy decision taken where he (Sisodia) was one rung out of the seven, including the L-G. Power of arrest does not mean compulsion to arrest.”

    Blow to AAP national expansion? 
    Sisodia’s arrest and resignation could affect the AAP’s national expansion plans ahead of the 2024 LS polls. The BJP hopes it will tie down Kejriwal to Delhi and Punjab

  • Adani-Hindenburg row: AAP holds protests in Srinagar, Jammu; demands JPC probe 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Police on Sunday prevented AAP workers from staging a protest outside the BJP office here over the Adani-Hindenburg row.

    Led by AAP’s central Kashmir youth president Jibran Dar, party workers assembled in Jawahar Nagar area and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani.

    The protesters alleged that Modi was favouring Adani, but doing nothing for ordinary people.

    Before they could reach the BJP office in the area, the protesters were detained by police and whisked away to the local police station.

    Adani Group stocks have taken a beating after US-based activist short-seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation, against it. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as lies.

    The AAP also staged a protest outside the BJP office in Jammu over the issue and demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into independent India’s “biggest scam”.

    AAP workers led by senior party leaders assembled outside the BJP office in Trikuta Nagar and chanted slogans against the BJP-led government, claiming that Modi gave all resources to one person and made him the second richest person in the world.

    Terming it independent India’s “biggest scam”, senior AAP leader T S Tony said, “In 2014, Adani’s assets were worth Rs 37,000 crore.

    They increased to Rs 59,000 crore in 2018, Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 2020 and Rs 13 lakh crore in 2022.

    ” “We are here to bring the BJP’s direct link to this scam before the people. the exposed government is running away and not giving answers,” he said.

    Tony, who is the chairman of the AAP’s minority welfare wing, also demanded a JPC probe into the alleged scam.

    Opposition parties have been demanding a JPC probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations against the Adani Group.

    Parliamentary proceedings during the first week of the ongoing Budget Session were virtually washed out amid protests by opposition parties, including the AAP.

    JAMMU: Police on Sunday prevented AAP workers from staging a protest outside the BJP office here over the Adani-Hindenburg row.

    Led by AAP’s central Kashmir youth president Jibran Dar, party workers assembled in Jawahar Nagar area and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani.

    The protesters alleged that Modi was favouring Adani, but doing nothing for ordinary people.

    Before they could reach the BJP office in the area, the protesters were detained by police and whisked away to the local police station.

    Adani Group stocks have taken a beating after US-based activist short-seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation, against it. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as lies.

    The AAP also staged a protest outside the BJP office in Jammu over the issue and demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into independent India’s “biggest scam”.

    AAP workers led by senior party leaders assembled outside the BJP office in Trikuta Nagar and chanted slogans against the BJP-led government, claiming that Modi gave all resources to one person and made him the second richest person in the world.

    Terming it independent India’s “biggest scam”, senior AAP leader T S Tony said, “In 2014, Adani’s assets were worth Rs 37,000 crore.

    They increased to Rs 59,000 crore in 2018, Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 2020 and Rs 13 lakh crore in 2022.

    ” “We are here to bring the BJP’s direct link to this scam before the people. the exposed government is running away and not giving answers,” he said.

    Tony, who is the chairman of the AAP’s minority welfare wing, also demanded a JPC probe into the alleged scam.

    Opposition parties have been demanding a JPC probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations against the Adani Group.

    Parliamentary proceedings during the first week of the ongoing Budget Session were virtually washed out amid protests by opposition parties, including the AAP.