Shots fired at AAP MLA’s convoy, party worker dead; investigation underway

The newly-elected MLA along with his supporters was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in his constituency, the police said

A person was killed after some unidentified people opened fire at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav’s convoy in southwest Delhi’s Kishangarh village on late Tuesday night, police said. The newly-elected MLA along with his supporters was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in his constituency, the police said. According to sources, seven rounds were fired at the Mehrauli MLA’s convoy.

The Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR in connection with the firing incident. Delhi Police said that investigation is on and working “on all angles” to find out the motive behind firing the shots at Naresh Yadav‘s convoy. One volunteer Ashok Mann was killed while another volunteer Harender was injured when shots were fired at Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Yadav’s convoy here on Tuesday night.

In a tweet, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh claimed party volunteer Ashok Mann was killed in the attack. “Convoy of MLA Naresh Yadav attacked in Mehrauli, Ashok Mann killed. Naresh Yadav was returning home after visiting a temple,” Singh said in a tweet in Hindi. “Shots fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYada and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured,” the AAP said in a tweet…

Delhi: AAP kept its nerve even as BJP breathed fire in the campaign

AAP seems to be cruising to victory in Delhi, the result of not getting diverted by BJP’s campaign

Early trends suggest that the Aam Admi Party is set to get a second term in Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal a third shot as the chief minister. It began as a comfortable cruise for the AAP, turned into a closer contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a bounce back for the AAP. At the time of writing AAP was projected to win 55 of the 70 seats while the BJP was placed at a distant second with leads in just 15 seats. The Congress seemed unlikely to open its account for the second consecutive time since 2015. However, the spike in the BJP’s vote share to a little over 40 percent as of now suggested that a chunk of the Congress votes might have shifted to AAP.

However, the surprise element was that Manish Sisodia, Arvind Kejriwal‘s man for all seasons and reasons, was trailing in his constituency, Patparganj in East Delhi. Sisodia was perceived as the Delhi government’s mover and shaker and the author of its far-reaching education and health reforms. The shock reversal of Sisodia’s fortunes has been attributed to a statement he made in the penultimate phase of electioneering that was construed as his support to the Shaheen Bagh protests, contrary to the official line that directed that the AAP’s stand must be neutral.

However, Sisodia’s reversal is a side story to an election in which the AAP fought back every inch of the way against the BJP’s formidable organisational machinery and a feverish campaign, that bordered on the vicious, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home minister Amit Shah, with “stars” like Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, deployed to accentuate the “faith” divide in the aftermath of the agitation against the Centre’s citizenship package…

Delhi elections between 2 million people, 200 BJP MPs: Arvind Kejriwal

Kejriwal referred to the BJP bringing in 200 party MPs, 70 ministers and 11 Chief Ministers to Delhi for campaigning

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the February Assembly elections are a fight between 20 millionpeople of Delhi and 200 BJP MPs, as he urged people to vote for AAP.

“This fight is between two crore people of Delhi and 200 BJP MPs. When they come, count the number of works done in five years and send them back to their states. Do not let them insult Delhi,” he said while addressing the public during his roadshow here. Kejriwal referred to the BJP bringing in 200 party MPs, 70 ministers and 11 Chief Ministers to Delhi for campaigning.

“They are coming here to defeat you, your son Kejriwal, to defeat and insult the work that we have done in five years. Now they will come and insult and find faults in our schools, Mohalla Clinics, electricity, water, etc. I want to ask the people, will you remain quiet and bear the insult?” he asked. Soon after, several AAP leaders tweeted that the entire BJP was pitted against Kejriwal…

Amit Shah is lying, BJP’s 7 MPs have done nothing for Delhi: Manish Sisodia

Sisodia added that Shah, when referring to Delhi, also had to speak about the real issues and the works done.

Slamming former BJP President Amit Shah for telling “blatant lies” about the city, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia said on Friday that the Union Home Minister was lying as none of the seven BJP MPs in Delhi have done anything for the national capital.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia said that in 2014, the people of Delhi voted for 7 BJP MPs and it was repeated in 2019. “Had these 7 MPs or the Central government had done any work for the people on the ground, they wouldn’t have to resort to ‘jumlas’, or be confused about issues to attack the Arvind Kejriwal government,” Sisodia said, asking BJP leaders to raise real issues.

Sisodia said on Thursday, Amit Shah made some statements during his rally in Delhi. He appreciated that Shah was talking about the work being done in Delhi. “We had said that we entered politics to transform it and Shah himself provides ample proof of the manner in which we have changed the narrative,” said Sisodia.

He added that Shah, when referring to Delhi, also had to speak about the real issues and the works done. Sisodia said that Shah had to finally admit on Thursday that ‘some’ cameras have been installed. “Even though he only acknowledged that ‘some’ cameras have been installed, at least he accepted that work has happened. Since he is the Union Home Minister, he has all the sources at his disposal to gather information. He is also in constant touch with officers of the Delhi government….

Sell liquor lying in bar in 8 days or destroy it: Delhi govt to restaurants

This move comes after multiple raids that resulted in heavy fines or even cancellation of licences and blacklisting the restaurants in the recent past

All stocks of wine and beer transferred from store room to the bar counter must be sold within 3 days, says a Delhi government order. Cheaper liquor brands which are priced under Rs 1,500 must be cleared within 5 day, says the order.

However, brands costing up to Rs 6,000 have been allowed 8 days, according to the notification of the National Capital Territory government issued on Aug 26. This move comes after multiple raids that resulted in heavy fines or even cancellation of licences and blacklisting the restaurants in the recent past.

The notice reads: “It has been brought to the notice of this department that this practice of not following First In First Out and keeping liquour bottles at the bar counter for a duration beyond their normal period of consumption has potential for misuse through refilling/adulteration. Department has also received complaints in this regard. The matter has, therefore, been reviewed…”

After the expiry of the period, the stocks have to be destroyed within 7 days and inventory maintained of such stocks. The order comes into effect on August 31 at 10 am.

The Indian Wine Academy, a private consultancy, however has voiced its concern, saying it smacks of corruption. “The policy would increase corruption many-fold and restaurants and hotels would be at the mercy of their new lords and masters who draw considerable clout in any case, immaterial of which government is currently ruling”, says the organisation.

Modi begins talks for forming new cabinet after big election win for BJP

The BJP would have the first back-to-back majority in the lower house of parliament for a single party since 1984. Votes will be fully counted by Friday morning.

Head administrator Narendra Modi will hold chats on Friday to shape another bureau to handle a stammering economy and different difficulties confronting his second term subsequent to winning a major larger part.

Official information from the Election Commission demonstrated Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party had won 296 of the 542 seats available to all and was ahead in seven more, up from the 282 it won in 2014. The BJP would have the first consecutive greater part in the lower place of parliament for a solitary gathering since 1984. Votes will be completely tallied by Friday morning.

After a hostile and a polarizing decision battle, the center moves back to an economy that is abating, even as the U.S.- China exchange war seethes and worldwide oil costs tick higher. “While the macroeconomic picture looks steady and encouraging, numerous significant portions need support from the administration,” BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav wrote in a segment in the Indian Express every day.

Click Here: Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Results 

“India can’t totally remain protected from the progressing exchange war between the U.S. what’s more, China or the geo-vital clash between the U.S. furthermore, Iran,” he included. Later on Friday Modi will meet with his priests to talk about shaping another bureau, an administration representative said. He has not yet set an introduction date for the organization, however BJP authorities said he was required to move rapidly to assemble another bureau.

A prompt choice will be whether to keep senior BJP pioneer Arun Jaitley as account serve notwithstanding his weakness, or allocate Railways and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal to the activity of driving Asia’s third biggest economy. Goyal, 54, had ventured into the job twice in the Modi government when Jaitley was sick. Goyal exhibited a break spending plan before the decision and a full spending plan is expected after the new government gets down to business…

Rajiv Gandhi didn’t use INS Viraat for vacation: Former Navy officers

Vice Admiral Pasricha said Rajiv Gandhi was on official work, and his wife Sonia, son Rahul and a couple of IAS officers accompanied him

Previous maritime officers, including then leader of INS Viraat, on Thursday expelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that previous PM Rajiv Gandhi had utilized the now-decommissioned plane carrying warship as his “own taxi”.

Resigned Admiral L Ramdas issued an announcement dismissing the PM’s case that Rajiv Gandhi utilized INS Viraat as his “own taxi” on a 10-day family get-away to Lakshadweep or that Sonia Gandhi’s relatives were ready the vessel. The occurrence goes back to December 1987. In the announcement, Admiral Ramdas said he has depended on reactions from his associates, resigned Admiral Arun Prakash, resigned Vice Admirals Vinod Pasricha and Madanjit Singh. Admi-ral Ramdas then headed the Indian Navy’s Southern Command.

Bad habit Admiral Pasricha was then Captain and leader INS Viraat. Naval commander Prakash was telling INS Vindhyagiri, which was going with INS Viraat and Vice Admiral Singh was leader INS Ganga. Chief naval officer Ramdas said he has likewise depended on a note from an officer who was then the maritime officer responsible for Lakshadweep Islands.

Chief naval officer Ramdas and Vice Admiral Pasricha were ready INS Viraat when it had facilitated Rajiv Gandhi. They said he set out INS Viraat off Trivandrum on the way Lakshadweep. The previous PM was at Trivandrum (presently Thiruvananthapuram) as boss visitor for the National Games prize appropriation..

Delhi LS elections: Take money from others, but vote for AAP, says Kejriwal

Kejriwal had made a similar comment in Chandni Chowk earlier, following which he was sent a show-cause notice by the Election Commission

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked voters not to deny money given to them by other political parties, but vote for the Aam Aadmi Party. “On the night of election, do they [other political parties] come to give money or not?” Kejriwal asked, without mentioning the BJP or Congress.

“What will you do? Take it, don’t deny it, but vote for jhadu (broom, AAP’s election symbol),” the AAP chief said at a roadshow in support of South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked voters not to deny money given to them by other political parties, but vote for the Aam Aadmi Party. “On the night of election, do they [other political parties] come to give money or not?” Kejriwal asked, without mentioning the BJP or Congress.

“What will you do? Take it, don’t deny it, but vote for jhadu (broom, AAP’s election symbol),” the AAP chief said at a roadshow in support of South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha. Kejriwal had made a similar comment in Chandni Chowk earlier, following which he was sent a showcause notice by the Election Commission. Chadha, meanwhile, said the youth would reject the politics of hooliganism.

“To all the political goons in South Delhi, I want to say that for a very long time, you all have imposed politics of fear and muscle in South Delhi,” he said. “But no longer. Now, the youth of this country will reject the politics of hooliganism and instate politics of honesty and decency.” “Stop intimidating and insulting the people of South Delhi and pay heed… we will neither be scared nor let you scare people any longer,” Chadha said…

Kapil Mishra vs AAP: Money laundering allegations fly thick and fast

Mishra accused Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of money laundering using hawala channel

Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra’s indefinite fast against the AAP on Saturday saw high drama with a ruling party legislator attempting a counter fast outside the former’s house, but was detained by police.

Sanjeev Jha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Burari, attempted to hold a counter hunger strike outside Mishra’s Civil Lines house to demand that he present proof of his bribery allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Jha was detained by the police, who said the legislator did not have the requisite permission.

Mishra, who began his hunger strike on Wednesday, accused Kejriwal of using Jha as a pawn to disrupt his agitation. He insisted that he will present proof of his allegations only to investigative agencies.

He is on fast demanding that Kejriwal reveal the source of funding of the foreign trips of five AAP leaders – Sanjay Singh, Ashish Khetan, Satyendar Jain, Raghav Chadhha and Durgesh Pathak – in the last two years.

“I would like to advise Jha against sitting on a hunger strike as he is being used as a pawn,” said Mishra, and alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will resort to “new drama” to distract attention from the “foreign trips controversy”.

“They must know that I will handover the evidence only to investigative agencies. But Kejriwal wants that I hand them over to the ‘thief’ who then will judge himself and then proclaim himself to be innocent (referring to Kejriwal). That is not going to happen,” he asserted.

AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia dubbed Mishra’s hunger strike as “BJP facilitated”.

Mishra declared that Kejriwal’s attempts to foil his “Satyagraha” will not be successful.

Mishra alleged that the Chief Minister has asked “at least 20” MLAs to launch hunger strikes to counter him “but only one (Jha) was willing”.

He said that Jha should be provided security, alleging that there could be an attack on Jha to portray Mishra in bad light. | READMORE…

ALSO READ : Amazon Prime powers one of three orders during the Great India Sale

ALSO READ : Ransomware cyber-attack is preventable! Know how it can be avoided

ALSO READ : Wrong name in PAN, Aadhaar cards? Now, you can fix such errors online

Kejriwal's other headache: The alleged Rs 400-cr water tanker scam

Kapil Mishra has been pursuing a probe into the alleged scam, which has been in the news since 2015

 

Before sacked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Kapil Mishra dropped the bomb on Sunday with allegations of corruption against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, all indications had pointed towards some big revelation regarding the alleged Rs 400 crore water tanker scam — a case which saw FIRs against both Kejriwal and his predecessor Sheila Dikshit. 

Till Sunday morning, Mishra had maintained that he had been axed from the Delhi Cabinet for his insistence on bringing those involved in the alleged scam to justice. While news events have overtaken the issue, Mishra's May 6, 2017, letter to the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) indicates that he has no intention of letting go of the findings he claims to have made while probing the matter. 

What is the scam all about and how did it come to light

The alleged scam came to light when Delhi's AAP government, in June 2015, constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the irregularities in hiring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board in 2012, during Dikshit's rule.

The five-member committee was formed by then Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra.

Its report, submitted to Kejriwal in August 2015, highlights alleged corruption of Rs 400 crore in the process of awarding tenders for hiring water tankers.

It recommended an FIR against Congress leader Dikshit by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ACB.

In mid-June 2016, almost a year later, the report was sent to the prime minister and Delhi's lieutenant governor by the AAP government.

Subsequently, the Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch filed an FIR against both Kejriwal and his predecessor Dikshit in connection with the water tanker scam.

Kejriwal's name got added due to a complaint by a legislator from the opposition. In June 2016, ACB chief M K Meena told IANS that Arvind Kejriwal's name also featured in the FIR due to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Vijender Gupta's complaint against the former "for causing delay and not cancelling the contract for water tankers".

What did the Delhi government do after the panel submitted its report

On June 12, 2016, then state Water Minister Mishra had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung recommending either a CBI or ACB probe against Dikshit in connection with the alleged scam. 

Mishra also said that the former Delhi chief minister should be behind bars for alleged corruption and that she was not facing any action as the BJP was not keen to punish the guilty. 

He also said that the state government had filed three FIRs against Dikshit for various corruption cases.

How did the ACB get involved

On June 16, 2016, Jung forwarded the report on the alleged scam to the ACB for further investigation. 

However, Jung also forwarded a complaint filed with him by BJP leader Gupta accusing Kejriwal of "suppressing" the committee's report into the tanker scam for 11 months.

(read more)

Kejriwal's Rs 3.42 cr bill: Why should I pay from my pocket, says AAP chief

Manish Sisodia said the issue has been raked up to divert the attention from the EVM controversy

 

"Should I pay from my pocket?" Arvind Kejriwal today asked, breaking his silence on the controversy over his move to pay lawyer Ram Jethmalani from the public exchequer for defending him in a defamation case.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who had directed the General Administration Department to clear the bills due to Jethmalani, said the issue has been raked up to divert the attention from the EVM controversy.

Jethmalani has not been paid yet and the matter is pending with Lt Governor Anil Baijal.

The bills totalled around Rs 3.4 crore.

Kejriwal made the remarks addressing a rally in north-east Delhi's Seemapuri constituency. He said the controversy was created to "weaken" the AAP government's fight against corruption.

"Who plays cricket here?" he asked pointing towards the crowd. "In Delhi there was massive corruption in cricket. You must have heard of DDCA. It was heavily corrupt. Youngsters used to come to me and complain that money is sought for selection."

(READ MORE)

Rs 48,000 cr Delhi Budget: AAP focuses on health, education, no new taxes

Kejriwal government abolished the plan and non-plan expenditure heads

#LATEST | A Rs 48,000-crore budget for the national capital was today presented by the AAP government, laying major focus on improving transport, health, water distribution and education infrastructure.

In its third Budget, the Arvind Kejriwal government abolished the plan and non-plan expenditure heads and presented it in terms of revenue and capital classification in line with the Centre's decision.

There was no proposal on levying any new tax.

In a first, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the finance portfolio, also presented an "outcome budget" which he said would act like a "contract" between the government and the people.

Sisodia asserted that the economy of the state will grow "despite demonetisation".

At the same time, he said note ban has led to contraction in the city's estimated GSDP for the ongoing financial year (at constant prices) although it will still be higher than the projected growth at the national level.

At current prices, the national capital's economic growth has been pegged at 12.76 per cent.

"When we allocate money for skywalk, merely constructing it would not be counted as success. Its success would depend on how many people actually use it. That in a nutshell explains the objective of the outcome component," he said.

Eyeing the municipal polls, the government has earmarked a record Rs 7,571 crore for the civic bodies, which comes to about 15 per cent of the total allocation.

The government alloted Rs 11,300 crore for education, about 24 per cent of the total Budget, to the education sector. Last year's allocation was Rs 10,690 crore.

An outlay of Rs 5,736 crore has been made for the health sector, a priority area for AAP government.

Rs 1,156 crore has been set aside for the phase four of the Delhi Metro while Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for developing bus terminals and depots.

(READ MORE)

Some of Delhi govt's major initiatives could not succeed due to its constant run-ins with the Centre

As the Arvind Kejriwal government completes two conflict-ridden years in office tomorrow, some of the key poll promises made by AAP remains unfulfilled while realistic actions on the ground are seen in areas of education, health and drinking water.

The AAP, which stormed to power in February 2015 with a stunning performance of winning 67 out of 70 seats is yet to implement some of its key schemes including Wi-Fi in public zones, installing 10-15 lakh CCTV cameras across Delhi, bringing a law for devolution of power to mohallas and setting up subsidised canteens.

The AAP had promised to significantly improve the public transport but the Kejriwal dispensation could not add even a single bus to the existing fleet of the DTC. There was no progress toward fulfilling the promise of ensuring last mile connectivity.

The party had mentioned in its manifesto that eight lakh jobs will be created during the government's tenure but nothing concrete has been initiated on this front.

Some of the major initiatives of the AAP government could not see light of the day due to its constant run-ins with the Centre which adversely affected overall governance of the city.

However, newly appointed Lt Governor Anil Baijal has given indication he is ready to adopt a cooperative approach in dealing with the AAP government so as to ensure speedy implementation of developmental initiatives.

The acrimonious relations between AAP government and Centre peaked when the CBI, dealing a major blow to the Kejriwal dispensation, arrested the then Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rajendra Kumar, along with four others, in a corruption case in July last year.

The arrests triggered a political firestorm with Kejriwal training guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on virtually every issue, deepening the rift between the two sides.

The impact of this confrontation was quite visible on the governance structure.

The pace of work by the government got affected when former LG Najeeb Jung in August last year set up a panel to examine over 400 files pertaining to Delhi government's decisions notwithstanding Kejriwal's strong objection.

The panel headed by former CAG V K Shunglu submitted its report last month wherein it pointed out many discrepancies by AAP government.

READ MORE STORIES