In a strategic move ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday launched its ‘AAP Ka Ram Rajya’ website…reports Asian Lite News
On the occasion of Ram Navami and in line with the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party launched a website on Wednesday named “Aap ka Ram Rajya” to showcase the party works being done inspired by Ram Rajya in Delhi and Punjab.
The party’s senior leaders, Sanjay Singh, Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Jasmine Shah, addressed a press conference here today and released the website.
MP Sanjay Singh said that the Aam Aadmi Party’s governments in Delhi and Punjab have done such work, and examples are being given by countries around the world.
“In these 10 years, we not only formed the government thrice in Delhi but also formed the government in Punjab with an overwhelming majority. The Kejriwal government in Delhi and the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab have done such work, whose examples are being given by the countries of the world today. Delhi is the only state that has a profitable budget despite doing so much work. We are determined to fulfil our vision of Ram Rajya on the ground,” he said.
“Those who want to see our imagination of Ram Rajya must visit our website. What work have we done in Delhi and Punjab? You can see all that and then join us,” Sanjay Singh added.
Further, AAP minister Atishi said that as Lord Ram faced a lot of struggle for Ram Rajya, in the same way, Arvind Kejriwal had to go through a similar struggle to fulfil the promises made to the people of Delhi and Punjab.
“Being inspired by Ram Charit Manas, Kejriwal ji has said that he has been working for the last 9 years to fulfil the promises made by him to the people of Delhi and Punjab. Lord Ram had to face a struggle to fulfil Ram Rajya. He went into exile for 14 years but did not break his promise. Kejriwal also had to go through a similar struggle,” she said.
Atishi also pointed out that the party launched the website based on Ram Rajya to show the people of the country what can be done if they vote in the right place.
“He (Kejriwal) sends a message from jail, asking if the water, electricity, and health arrangements in Delhi are fine or not. Kejriwal considers the two crore people of Delhi as his family. The work we have done in Delhi and Punjab is being shown to the entire country through the website “Aapka Ram Rajya”. We are doing this so that the people of the country can be told how their lives can change if they cast their vote at the right place,” she added. (ANI)
PIL in Delhi HC for Kejriwal to govern from jail
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference on the implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in New Delhi, Wednesday, March 13, 2024.(IANS/Video Grab)
A petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court advocating for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s ability to continue governing from judicial custody in the liquor policy case.
Filed by advocate Shrikant Prasad, the PIL petition seeks to facilitate virtual conferencing arrangements for CM Kejriwal to engage with cabinet ministers, ensuring uninterrupted governance.
The PIL also seeks to restrain media houses from sensationalising news about CM Kejriwal’s potential resignation and the imposition of President’s Rule in the capital.
Moreover, it targets Virendra Sachdeva, BJP Delhi president, alleging that his protests and statements create undue pressure for Kejriwal’s resignation, disrupting peace and traffic flow with politically motivated intentions.
Prasad’s petition stresses the commendable track record of Delhi’s governance, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors over the past seven years. It contends that the present circumstances in the national capital violate fundamental rights under Articles 21, 14, and 19 of the Indian Constitution.
Asserting that neither the Constitution nor any law prohibits ministers, including chief ministers or prime ministers, from governing from jail, Prasad’s plea stresses the urgency of the matter, citing the need to ensure continuity in governance for the welfare of the people.
“As the makers of the Constitution were vigilant enough that there might be a situation when the politics of the country will enter into the worst and at that time just to keep the public fundamental rights upheld it is very much required that there is no compulsion or any obligation for resignation, otherwise gravest repercussions may arise by repeating the same modus operandii for making any minister resigned,” Prasad says.
The petition urges expedited consideration from the court, citing the exceptional governance of Delhi amidst CM Kejriwal’s incarceration, attributed to alleged political motives and false implications in the liquor policy case.
“The Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal got a sweeping majority by winning 62 out of 70 seats in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election. Also in the preceding Delhi Assembly election on 07th Feb 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal won 67 out of 70 seats with absolute majority. The above ratio shows that governance of Delhi by Shri Arvind Kejriwal is an unprecedented move in india,” Prasad’s petition says.
The plea stresses the constitutional safeguards and the imperative to maintain governance continuity despite the Chief Minister’s legal predicament.
The Enforcement Directorate informed the SC that the agency has no objection to Sanjay Singh getting bail…reports Asian Lite News
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to AAP leader Sanjay Singh in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy irregularities case. The court order came after the ED chose not to oppose Sanjay Singh’s bail plea.
A bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed the release of Sanjay Singh on bail during the pendency of trial in a money laundering case relating to excise policy irregularities.
The Enforcement Directorate informed the SC that the agency has no objection to Sanjay Singh getting bail.
The ED response came after the court sought to know from the investigating agency whether it needed further custody of AAP leader Sanjay Singh in the excise policy case.
The court observed that Sanjay Singh had spent six months in jail.
The Supreme Court clarified that Sanjay Singh will be released on terms and conditions to be fixed by the trial court. The court also made it clear that concession shall not be cited as precedent. Meanwhile the court said that Sanjay Singh may continue with his political activities. In the meantime the top court disposed of the Sanjay Singh another plea challenging his arrest and remand in the case observing that it has become infructuous
The top court was hearing AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s plea against the Delhi High Court order refusing to grant him bail in the excise policy irregularities case.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh has approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order refusing to grant him bail in connection with an excise policy irregularities case.
In his bail plea, Sanjay Singh has challenged the Delhi High Court order dated February 7, 2024. Sanjay Singh moved to the High Court when, on December 22, 2023, the trial court dismissed his bail.
Sanjay Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on October 4, 2023, in the case.
According to ED, Sanjay Singh was alleged to be involved in creating a special purpose vehicle to launder the proceeds of crime that would have been generated from the business arising out of the policy changes as conspired by him and his co-conspirators.
ED had also stated that Sanjay Singh has been in possession of certain confidential documents pertaining to the investigation of this case that are not in the public domain.
Sanjay Singh in the Delhi High Court denied charges and said that he is guilty of any criminal wrongdoing or any violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in any manner whatsoever and therefore, the applicant’s life and liberty must be protected from unwarranted and unjustified encroachment at the hands of the Directorate of Enforcement on the basis of a false, malicious and motivated case without any merit.
Meanwhile, AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Tuesday asserted that “truth has won” after the Supreme Court granted bail to Sanjay Singh. She accused that the entire case was fake and had been written in the BJP office.
“Today God is with us, Bajrang Bali is with us, truth has won. We were saying from the beginning that this entire case is fake and has been written in the BJP office. Even after about 500 raids, not even a single penny was recovered. Today the Supreme Court also said, what is the point of keeping him in custody when no money trail is found…” (ANI)
‘Kejriwal to run govt from jail, will not quit’
A day after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until April 15, AAP Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday said that Kejriwal will run the government from jail as the party MLAs don’t want him to resign.
AAP MLAs of the Delhi Assembly met Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of jailed CM Arvind Kejriwal, on Tuesday in the national capital.
Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until April 15 and is lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a money-laundering case linked to a liquor excise policy scam.
“The party MLAs on Tuesday met Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal and asserted that the Delhi chief minister should continue to run the government from jail and not step down,” Saurabh Bharadwaj said while addressing a press conference in the national capital.
Bharadwaj said that during the meeting, the AAP MLAs told Sunita Kejriwal that two crore people in Delhi stand with the chief minister and he should not resign at any cost.
Hitting out at the BJP-led central government, the AAP leader said, “BJP thinks that we should give the Chief Minister post to them. We will not give it to them. They might be anxious, but things will go on like this.”
Following the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case, Sunita has been holding digital briefings similar to the ones that used to done by him, prior to his being taken into custody.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi today said that the AAP chief, who has been sent by a Delhi to judicial custody till April 15 and lodged in Tihar Jail, has not been convicted in the case and will continue to remain in the post.
“There are two constitutional and legal provisions related to this in our country. Representation of the People Act says that if you have a conviction for more than two years, then you cannot remain a public representative. Arvind Kejriwal has not been convicted…Arvind Kejriwal enjoys overwhelming majority of the Delhi Assembly, so there is no reason for Arvind Kejriwal to resign. If Arvind Kejriwal resigns today then it will be a very simple and straightforward solution for the Bharatiya Janata Party to topple the opposition governments,” Atishi said.
On Sunday, in her first appearance on a public platform since the arrest of her husband by the ED Sunita Kejriwal delivered the message by Arvind Kejriwal to the nation from ED custody. It consisted of six guarantees to the country, on behalf of the INDIA bloc, aimed at creating “a new India”.
On Sunday, in her first appearance on a public platform since the arrest of her husband by the ED Sunita Kejriwal delivered the message by Arvind Kejriwal to the nation from ED custody. It consisted of six guarantees to the country, on behalf of the INDIA bloc, aimed at creating “a new India”.
The case arose out of a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022, pointing to alleged procedural lapses in the formulation of the policy.
The report said “arbitrary and unilateral decisions” taken by Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in his capacity as Excise Minister had resulted in “financial losses to the exchequer” estimated at more than Rs 580 crore.
This report was referred to the CBI and led to Sisodia’s arrest.
The ED alleged that the “scam” was to give the wholesale liquor business to private entities and fix a 12 per cent margin, for a 6 per cent kickback. In its first prosecution complaint in November 2021, the ED said the policy was “formulated with deliberate loopholes” that “promoted cartel formations through the back door” to benefit AAP leaders.
The ED also alleged that AAP leaders received kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore from a group of individuals identified as the “South Group”. (ANI)
The AAP and the Congress have arrived at a 4:3 seat-sharing arrangement for Delhi…reports Asian Lite News
The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold joint campaigns in Delhi for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and meetings to chalk out a plan for the same will follow soon, Sandeep Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP of the party ruling the national capital, said.
Pathak, who is also AAP’s national general secretary (organisation), said the seat-sharing arrangement for the polls was mutually decided by the parties after which AAP’s political affairs committee (PAC) came to a conclusion. “We will definitely have (joint) campaigns. We will hold meetings and a plan will be made,” Pathak said.
“We have discussed with them (Congress) at length about the candidates and then the PAC came to a decision,” he added.
The AAP and the Congress have arrived at a 4:3 seat-sharing arrangement for Delhi.
The AAP has fielded MLA Somnath Bharti, who is also the Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman, from the New Delhi constituency; Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar from East Delhi; Sahiram Pehelwan from South Delhi and former MP Mahabal Mishra from the West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.
The Congress is yet to announce its candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi.
The AAP-Congress alliance will begin its election campaigning in Delhi and Haryana in the next one week and the announcement for Punjab will be made in the next few days, Pathak said.
Asked how the seats were decided, Pathak said “We just wanted the alliance for the betterment of the country. The whole country and all sectors are vitiated. So our party wanted to give an atmosphere where there is freedom.” On the selection of candidates, Pathak said.
“The candidates were selected on the criteria of their winnability. When it comes to INDIA alliance seat-sharing, our INDIA was clear we don’t want to be stuck up here and there for a seat or two.” This alliance was a must for India. And so there was no obstacle at any point of time, he said.
“Due credit to Congress as well, as they were also very cordial. Once the seats were decided, then the candidates were selected on the criteria of their public perception and winnability,” Pathak said.
The parties will have different strategies and pace for starting the poll campaigns in different states. “In Bharuch and Bhavnagar, the campaigns have already started. In the next one week, you will see campaigns starting in Delhi at a large level, as well as in Haryana,” he said.
“For Punjab, we will announce in the next few days,” he added. Speaking about the strengths of AAP and areas where it needs to improve, Pathak said once elected to power in the central government, the party will be able to better serve the people without interference from the ruling party.
He said the party aims to add “intellectual, young and honest” people in the team to raise important issues which are public-centric.
On the topic of Ram mandir, Pathak said by providing good education, hospitals and honest government, the state government has been able to implement the idea of Ram Rajya in the true sense. “For us, Ram is not a matter of votes. Those who are doing politics over this, the people will only decide and answer.”
The party has fielded Sahiram Pahalwan from the South Delhi seat, and Mahabal Mishra is set to contest from West Delhi….reports Asian Lite News
The Aam Admi Party on Tuesday announced its candidates for four Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and one from Haryana’s Kurukshetra constituency.
AAP has fielded Kuldeep Kumar from the East Delhi constituency, whereas former Delhi Minister and senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti will contest from the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat.
The party has fielded Sahiram Pahalwan from the South Delhi seat, and Mahabal Mishra is set to contest from West Delhi.
In Haryana, AAP has decided to field Sushil Gupta will contest from Kurukshetra.
Addressing a press conference, AAP leader Gopal Rai said that his party has taken a historic decision by fielding a Schedule Caste candidate from the East Delhi constituency, which is a general seat.
“In East Delhi, we have taken a historic decision. Kuldeep Kumar comes from a Scheduled Caste category, and this would be the first time in Delhi that a reserve category candidate will be fighting from a general seat,” Rai said.
Gopal Rai further stated that the names of the candidates have been announced after taking into account all the calculations required to ensure victory in the seats.
“From Bharuch and Bhavnagar, our candidates have been announced. The purpose of fielding these candidates is to ensure victory in whatever seats AAP will fight. So all calculations have been kept in mind,” he said.
AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Atishi also hailed the party’s decision to field Kuldeep Kumar from East Delhi.
“It is only the AAP that is trying to end caste-based politics in the country. We don’t look at which seat is for Brahmans, or Gujjars. We have ended such calculations. We just look at those who want to serve the public in an honest manner,” Atishi said.
Meanwhile AAP leader Sushil Gupta on Tuesday extended gratitude to party supremo Arvind Kejriwal after the party announced his candidature for Haryana’s Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat.
Sushil Gupta exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will secure victories on all 17 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and Haryana.
“I would thank the AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for believing in me. I have full faith that I will win this seat and give it to Arvind Kejriwal. Being a member of the INDIA alliance, I am confident that the INDIA alliance will win all 17 seats in Delhi and Haryana. Haryana is in a bad state. The central government is not giving MSP to the farmers, but bullets, tear gas, and lathi-charge. Crime is at an all-time high,” Sushil Gupta told ANI.
The Aam Admi Party on Tuesday announced its candidates for four Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and one from Haryana’s Kurukshetra constituency.
AAP has fielded Kuldeep Kumar from the East Delhi constituency, whereas former Delhi Minister and senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti will contest from the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat.
The party has fielded Sahiram Pahalwan from the South Delhi seat, and Mahabal Mishra is set to contest from West Delhi.
In Haryana, AAP has decided to field Sushil Gupta from Kurukshetra.
Gopal Rai further stated that the names of the candidates have been announced after taking into account all the calculations required to ensure victory in the seats.
“From Bharuch and Bhavnagar, our candidates have been announced. The purpose of fielding all these candidates is to ensure victory in whatever seats AAP will fight. So all calculations have been kept in mind,” he said. (ANI)
As part of the deal, the AAP will contest 4 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi while the Congress will field candidates in the remaining 3….reports Asian Lite News
The Political Affairs Committee of the Aam Admi Party, the topmost decision-making body of the ruling party in the national capital will hold a meeting on Tuesday, the party informed through a statement on Monday.
According to party sources, the meeting will feature discussions on the AAP’s choice of candidates for the 4 Lok Sabha seats that it will contest in the national capital.
After much haggling and extensive deliberations over weeks, the AAP and the Congress finally broke the deadlock and announced a 4:3 seat-sharing deal for the national capital ahead of the crucial general elections.
As part of the deal, the AAP will contest 4 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi while the Congress will field candidates in the remaining 3. As part of the bargain, the grand old party will also set aside seats in Haryana, Goa and Gujarat while contesting the prized Chandigarh seat.
The meeting of the AAP’s highest decision-making body is scheduled to be convened at party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s Delhi residence.
At a joint press conference of top leaders of the two parties in the national capital earlier on Saturday, Congress general secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik said his party will contest from Chandni Chowk, North East and North West seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
In neighbouring Gujarat, the Congress will contest 24 of 26 Lok Sabha seats, leaving the remaining two seats Bharuch and Bhavnagar for the AAP.
In Haryana, the Congress will contest 8 of the 9 Lok Sabha seats while the AAP will contest the lone seat of Kurukshetra.
As part of the seat-sharing deal, the Congress will contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa as AAP failed to register its win in Goa.
The two parties also decided to go in for a friendly fight and contest separately in Punjab, a state where the AAP is the ruling party and the Congress is in the Opposition.
Made a mistake, says Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday submitted before the Supreme Court that retweeting the video which was allegedly defamatory and was circulated by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in 2018, was a “mistake”.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta directed the trial court not to proceed with the defamation case against him for the time being.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief has approached the apex court, challenging the February 5 order of the Delhi High Court refusing to quash the summons issued against him. The High Court had said that reposting alleged libellous content would attract defamation law.
The summon was issued in a defamation complaint lodged against him for retweeting a video of a YouTuber on the social media platform ‘X’.
During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, told the apex court, “There is no problem in admitting that this was a mistake if he had known that these would be the consequences.”
Singhvi requested an adjournment before the trial court, saying that they were prosecuting Kejriwal swiftly.
“They are prosecuting him very fast. They are hotfooting it. We will request an adjournment before the trial court,” he said. Justice Khanna said that Kejriwal need not appear in court for now, given the office he occupied. (ANI)
The pact, announced on Saturday, to give the Bharuch seat in Gujarat to AAP, has sparked debates.
Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have reached a seat-sharing agreement ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, causing a stir in Gujarat, especially over the contentious Bharuch seat. The pact, announced on Saturday, to give the Bharuch seat in Gujarat to AAP, has sparked debates.
Outlining the broader strategy, Congress General Secretary and MP, Mukul Wasnik, stated, “Gujarat has 26 Lok Sabha seats. Congress will contest on 24, leaving Bharuch and Bhavnagar for AAP.” This arrangement is part of the INDIA bloc’s efforts to consolidate opposition unity and challenge the ruling party in the upcoming elections.
The decision has not gone down well with all, particularly by members closely associated with the Bharuch constituency. Earlier on Friday, Mumtaz Patel, the daughter of the late Ahmed Patel, a veteran Congress leader with deep ties to Bharuch, voiced her concerns, saying, “This seat traditionally belongs to Congress, and its potential reallocation has demoralised many within our party.”
Bharuch is an important seat, here’s why:
The efforts to protect the seat were also done by Faisal Patel, Ahmed Patel’s son. He expressed his discontent in a letter to the party leadership, highlighting the emotional and political significance of the Bharuch seat to his family and the Congress party. He pointed out the demographic composition of Bharuch and the electoral history, including his father’s victories from 1977 to 1984, to argue against the seat-sharing decision. Faisal Patel warned that ceding Bharuch to AAP could replicate the adverse impacts seen in Delhi and Punjab, where Congress’ presence has waned.
The Bharuch seat has been a stronghold for the BJP since 1989, with Mansukh Vasava securing it for the party in six consecutive terms. The AAP’s performance in the region, particularly their win in Dediapada during the 2022 Gujarat polls, has been cited as a factor in the seat-sharing discussions.
However, concerns about diluting Congress’s traditional support base and jeopardising its chances of reclaiming the seat have led to calls for a reconsideration of the agreement. As the Congress-AAP alliance navigates, these internal disputes, the outcome of their deliberations on the Bharuch seat remains a focal point of interest in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
The apex court was dealing with a plea accusing Returning Officer of allegedly “defacing the ballots” during the mayoral polls….reports Asian Lite News
Setting aside the election of the BJP candidate as declared by the Returning Officer, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declared AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar as the Mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation during the hearing on the contentious Chandigarh mayoral election case.
The apex court was dealing with a plea filed by INDIA bloc’s mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar accusing Returning Officer Anil Masih of allegedly “defacing the ballots” during the Chandigarh mayoral polls held on January 30.
Kumar had accused the Returning Officer of resorting to fraud and forgery in the counting process.
“Setting aside the election process itself would not be proper since the issue is only when the Returning Officer made the counting,” a bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra observed.
The court also ordered prosecution of Returning Officer Masih for ‘misdemeanour’.
“It is evident that Anil Masih is guilty of serious misdemeanour for deliberately defacing eight ballot papers. He must be held accountable” the CJI said.
Contempt proceedings has been initiated against Masih.
On Monday, the top court had said that it would examine the ballot papers of the Chandigarh Mayoral polls along with the entire video recording of the counting day on Tuesday, citing concerns about potential horse-trading.
Expressing the need for transparency and fairness in the electoral process, CJI Chandrachud stressed the importance of scrutinising the invalidated ballots.
On Monday, the court had directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to assign a judicial officer to safely transport the records to Delhi.
CJI Chandrachud had stressed the urgency of the matter and declined a plea to postpone the hearing, citing ongoing horse-trading concerns.
Masih, appearing before the bench, had admitted to marking eight already defaced ballot papers with an ‘X’ and accused AAP councillors of creating disturbance during the process.
Masih had said that he had to monitor the situation via CCTV due to the disruptions caused by the AAP councillors.
The top court had summoned the official in question to remain present before it on Monday to explain his conduct.
After perusal of the CCTV footage given in the pen drive by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the AAP councillor, CJI Chandrachud had orally observed: “This is a mockery of democracy. He is murdering democracy. Is this the behaviour of a Returning Officer, who looks at the camera and defaces the ballot? It is obvious that he defaced the ballots. This man has to be prosecuted.”
Deferring the February 7 meeting of the Corporation, the Supreme Court had ordered that the entire record pertaining to the election, including ballot papers and videography footage, would be sequestered under the custody of the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The AAP and Congress’ joint candidate Kuldeep Kumar had petitioned the top court after the Punjab and Haryana High Court refused to stay the election results for the post of Mayor.
In his petition before the high court, Kuldeep Kumar had alleged complete departure from the practice and rules, saying that the Returning Officer refused to allow the nominees of parties to monitor the counting of votes. He also prayed for fresh elections in a free and fair manner under the supervision of a retired high court judge.
‘Thank You SC For Saving Democracy’
Setting aside the election of the BJP candidate as declared by the Returning Officer, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declared AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar as the Mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation while hearing a plea challenging the mayoral election.
The Opposition INDIA bloc leaders were quick to latch on to the top court ruling, stating that the Constitution and democracy have ultimately triumphed.
Taking to X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: “The Supreme Court has saved democracy from the fangs of an autocratic BJP, which resorted to dirty election manipulation. The institutional sabotage in the #ChandigarhMayorPolls is only a tip of the iceberg in Modi-Shah’s devious conspiracy to trample democracy.
“All Indians must fight this onslaught on our Constitution, collectively. Never forget. Our democracy shall be at the crossroads in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections!”
Reacting to the development, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said: “Now no one will trust the BJP, which was caught stealing red-handed in the Chandigarh mayoral elections.”
Welcoming the top court verdict, AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Truth may be troubled but not defeated. The Constitution and democracy ultimately won the Chandigarh Mayor elections. Many thanks to the Honorable Supreme Court.
“Kuldeep Kumar is a boy from a poor family. On behalf of INDIA bloc, many congratulations on becoming the Mayor of Chandigarh. This became possible only because of Indian democracy and the Honorable Supreme Court. We have to preserve the impartiality of our democracy and autonomous institutions at any cost.”
The apex court was dealing with a plea filed by INDIA bloc’s mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar accusing Returning Officer Anil Masih of allegedly ‘defacing the ballots’ during the Chandigarh mayoral polls held on January 30.
Kumar had accused the Returning Officer of resorting to fraud and forgery in the counting process.
“Setting aside the election process itself would not be proper since the issue is only when the Returning Officer made the counting,” a bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra observed.
The court also ordered prosecution of Returning Officer Masih for ‘misdemeanour’.
“It is evident that Anil Masih is guilty of serious misdemeanour for deliberately defacing eight ballot papers. He must be held accountable,” the CJI said.
Contempt proceedings have been initiated against Masih.
The Chief Minister said that the AAP is holding seat-sharing talks with the Congress in Delhi as not going for it will make things easy for the BJP…reports Asian Lite News
Rebuffing rumours about all not well in opposition bloc INDIA, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that it is “mutual decision” of the AAP and Congress to go solo in Punjab for the Lok Sabha elections, and there are no differences between them.
Talking to reporters about AAP’s decision to go it alone in Punjab, Kejriwal, who met Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi for lunch, said that the decision was mutual and there is no hostility over this.
The Chief Minister said that the AAP is holding seat-sharing talks with the Congress in Delhi as not going for it will make things easy for the BJP.
Since a decade, the BJP has been winning all seven parliamentary seats in the national capital.
Earlier, when Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced AAP’s decision contest all 13 seats in the state, Punjab Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa had said that is what the grand old party wants exactly.
Recently in an interview to a private TV channel, Bajwa had said: “We cannot go with AAP in Punjab, as AAP is the ruling party and Congress is in opposition.”
Reacting to the development, the BJP termed the opposition alliance as “opportunist”.
Budget deficit typically refers to the situation when a government’s total expenditures exceed its total revenues during a specific period, say a financial year. …reports Asian Lite News
Congress MP Manish Tewari responded sharply to Indian economist and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s presentation of the Interim Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, labelling it a ‘vote-on-account’ whose only goal is to keep the government solvent for the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
As soon as the budget for 2024-25 was made live, Congress MP Tewari said, “It is a ‘vote-on-account’ which has only one purpose to keep the government solvent for the first quarter of the current fiscal year.”
The Congress leader also expressed concern about the high budget deficit and said, “What’s worrying is that there is a budget deficit of Rs 18 lakh crores. This means that the government is borrowing for its expenditure. This number is only going to increase next year.”
Budget deficit typically refers to the situation when a government’s total expenditures exceed its total revenues during a specific period, say a financial year. It indicates that the government is spending more money than it is earning through various sources.
‘Vote on Account’ is a provision under Article 116 of the Indian Constitution that empowers the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the government’s expenditure requirements for a limited period, typically a few months.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also said that the Interim Budget 2024-25 was presented in rhetorical language with very little concrete on implementation.
“It was one of the shortest speeches on record in the Budget. Not very much came out of it. As usual a lot of rhetorical language, and very little concrete implementation. The Finance Minister talked about foreign investment without acknowledging that that investment has come down significantly,” Tharoor said.
“She talked about a number of things which are couched in vague language like ‘confidence’ and ‘hope’ and so on. But when it comes to hard figures, very few figures are available. This is going to be a very disappointing speech in terms of being couched entirely in generalities and without enough substance nor any willingness to address the specific problems of the economy,” added the Congress leader.
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “This budget was hollow. There was nothing for the youth, women, farmers…I saw arrogance when they said that they would present the Budget in July. You cannot take any election for granted.”
While DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said that the budget rated zero when it came to delivery.
“The Finance Minister took a long time to hail praises but delivery was zero. They are going to present a white paper on the previous government… Nothing much has happened in the last 10 years. The people of the country are already disappointed. Moreover, you realise that performance incentives are given to the bridge companies, and not going to the deserving ones. People are rejected with this budget” Maran said.
Newly elected AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal called the budget disappointing.
“This is a disappointing budget. Inflation and unemployment are at their peak in the country but there is nothing about it in the budget…It is a disappointing budget for the common people” the AAP MP said.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad however hit back at the opposition saying that India has now entered the Top 5 econnomies in the world from Fragile 5.
“This is a very effective and historical interim budget. It mentions the achievements of the past and a strong path towards the future. We will present the full budget in July… The number of taxpayers has increased. They have faith in the government that their money will not be misused… India has traversed a path from ‘Fragile 5’ to the world’s ‘Top 5’ economies in just 10 years” Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday presented the Interim Budget 2024 and expressed hope that the good policies and the work done by the Central government will help the BJP return to power for the third consecutive time in a row.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, the Union Finance Minister in her budget speech said, “Our young country has high aspirations, pride in its present and hope and confidence for a bright future. We expect that our government based on its stupendous work will be blessed again by the people with a resounding mandate.”
FM Sitharaman in her speech included key subjects on inclusive development, infrastructure, green growth, youth power, financial sector.
Ahead of the General elections, Sitharaman said that the government proposes to increase capital expenditure outlay by 11.1 per cent to Rs 11.11 lakh crore in 2024-25.
FM Sitharaman also said that PM SVANIDHI, a flagship initiative focusing on street vendors has extended credit assistance to 78 lakh street vendors across the country.
Presenting the Union Budget 2023, FM Sitharaman pegged the fiscal deficit target for 2024-25 at 5.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
As expected and in relief for the citizens, the central government neither tweaked nor put any additional tax burden on citizens, in the interim Budget for 2024-25 tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
FM Sitharaman in her interim budget speech said that the government will encourage vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for the prevention of cervical cancer.
Among others, the Finance Minister highlighted that the BJP-led Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in focusing on four major castes – Garib (Poor), Mahilayen (Women), Yuva (Youth) and Annadata (Farmer).
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called the Interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Thursday, “inclusive and innovative”.
PM Modi, in his first post-budget remarks, said that the Interim Budget empowers the four pillars of Viksit Bharat. (ANI)
A total of 35 councilors will vote in the Chandigarh Mayor elections….reports Asian Lite News
In a small but significant move the Congress and the Aam Admi Party will contest the Chandigarh Mayoral elections together. Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal told ANI that both parties were discussing the same, and it was decided that the AAP will contest the Mayor’s post while the Congress would contest the remaining two.
“Lok Sabha elections are to come later; before that, the corporation elections have come. We have been discussing the same and it has been decided that AAP will contest for the post of mayor and Congress will contest for the post of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The result of this will be that our candidate from the INDIA bloc will be successful with a good majority,” he said.
“On national issues, we know that there is agreement between Congress and AAP. Meetings have been held between different parties in which a consensus has been reached. At this time, everyone has gathered together to save the feelings of democracy,” he added.
A total of 35 councillors will vote in the Chandigarh Mayor elections.
At present BJP has the votes of 14 councillors and one MP. Whereas the Aam Aadmi Party has 13 councillors and Congress has 7 councillors.
Shiromani Akali Dal has 1 councillor.
18 votes are required for majority, of which BJP has the maximum of 15 votes. However, if Aam Aadmi Party and Congress come together then they will have a total of 20 votes.
The alliance comes even as the AAP and the Congress try to strike out an alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Earlier, a meeting of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was held in Delhi.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha were also present in the meeting at Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence. The AAP and the Congress could share seats in Delhi, Punjab as well as Goa and Haryana.
Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday congratulated Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge for being named as the “chairperson” of the opposition’s INDIA bloc.
The Delhi Minister said that Kharge is a big leader and all alliance partners respect him and listen to him. Making him the chairperson is a good sign, he added. (ANI)
