The Delhi CM further added that the Prime Minister in Bombay said that Sharad Pawar is a “Bhatakti Aaatma” and such language does not suit a PM….reports Asian Lite News
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP and PM Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that the country needs such a Prime Minister who thinks about reducing petrol prices, reducing inflation, gives employment to people but he is not thinking of that.
Addressing a rally in support of the New Delhi candidate from AAP, Somnath Bharti, Kejriwal said that he visited several places in the country and saw that the people are suffering due to inflation.
“We need such a Prime Minister who thinks about reducing petrol prices, thinks about reducing inflation, gives employment to people but he (PM Modi) is not thinking of that. Will put Hemant Soren in jail, Will put Mamta in jail.. what is this? Will we run this country like this?” he said.
“I went to Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Bhiwandi, Lucknow and saw that people are suffering from inflation. People do not have employment. People are very angry. Modi ji’s government will not form on June 4. They also know this, that is why they are in shock,” Kejriwal added.
The Delhi CM further added that the Prime Minister in Bombay said that Sharad Pawar is a “Bhatakti Aaatma” and such language does not suit a PM.
“Hume aisa Pradhan Mantri chahiye jo hamari samasyao ki baat kare aur desh ko tarakki ki taraf lekar jaaye (We need a Prime Minister who talks about our problems and takes the country towards progress)” Kejriwal said.
Sharpening his attack on Home Minister Amit Shah over his “Pakistani” remark, Kejriwal asked, “Are all our voters Pakistanis?”
“Now Amit Shah said in a rally that AAP supporters are Pakistanis. We got the majority in Delhi, are our voters Pakistani? We have a government in Punjab, got 15 per cent votes in Gujarat, are they all Pakistani?” he asked.
“INDIA bloc government will be formed on June 4 and the first thing we will do is to get full statehood status for Delhi. Then we will fix the law and order situation of Delhi,” he added.
Voting in Delhi for all seven Lok Sabha seats will be held in a single phase on May 25. (ANI)
Delhi CM promises free electricity, free education, free healthcare, fight corruption, and end of GST regime among others…reports Asian Lite News
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday addressed a press conference and elaborated on promises which he termed as ‘Kejriwal Guarantees’.
The Delhi Chief Minister ahead of the sixth phase of elections in Delhi on May 25 presented ’10 Kejriwal guarantees.’
Addressing the press conference, Kejriwal said, “Today, we are going to announce 10 guarantees of Kejriwal for the Lok Sabha elections. This was delayed due to my arrest but there are still many phases of elections left. I have not discussed it with the rest of the INDIA alliance but this is like a guarantee that no one will have any problems with. I take this guarantee that after the INDIA alliance comes to power, I will make sure that these guarantees are implemented. Kejriwal’s guarantee is a brand”
He added further, “These 10 guarantees are like the vision of India. There are some things that should have been completed in the last 75 years… These things are like laying the foundation stone of any nation. Without them, the nation cannot move ahead. Those works will be completed in the next five years.”
Elaborating on the guarantees, the Delhi CM announced to provide up to 200 units of free electricity to all the poor in the country if voted to power. He said, “Out of the 10 guarantees, the first guarantee is that we will provide 24-hour electricity in the country. The country has the capacity to generate three lakh MW of electricity but the usage is only two lakh MW. Our country can produce electricity more than the demand. We have done it in Delhi and Punjab, we will do it in the country also as we have experience. We will provide up to 200 units of free electricity to all the poor. It will cost Rs 1.25 lakh crore, we can arrange it…”
The second guarantee is of providing free education. Presenting the figures, Kejriwal said, “The second guarantee is of education. About 18 crore students study in 10 lakh government schools who have no future. Today, the condition of our government schools is not good. Our second guarantee is that we will arrange good and excellent free education for everyone, be it a kid belonging to a poor family or rich family.”
He added further, “Government schools will provide a better education than private schools. We have done it in Delhi and Punjab. This work should have been done at the time of independence only. Rs 5 lakh crores will be required for this. State governments will give Rs 2.5 lakh crores and central government will give Rs 2.5 crore for this…”
The third guarantee of Arvind Kejriwal is providing better healthcare. Describing the third guarantee, Kejriwal said, “…Today, the condition of our government hospital is not good in our country. Our third guarantee is better healthcare. We will arrange good treatment for everyone. Mohalla clinics will be opened in every village, every locality.”
The Delhi CM also claimed that every citizen of the country will get a free treatment. “District hospital will be converted into a Multispeciality Hospital. Every person born in this country will get free treatment. Treatment will not be done on the basis of insurance as this is a big scam. We will create infrastructure. Rs 5 lakh crore rupees will be spent on healthcare. The state government will spend Rs 2.5 lakh crore and the Central government will spend Rs 2.5 lakh crore,” Kejriwal said.
The fourth guarantee in the list of Kejriwal is ‘Nation First’. He claimed that the land occupied by China will be freed and said, “Our fourth guarantee is ‘Nation first’. China has occupied our land but our central government is denying it… There is a lot of strength in our army. All the land of the country which has been occupied by China will be freed. For this, efforts will be made at the diplomatic level on one side and the Army will be given complete freedom to take whatever steps it wants to take regarding this.”
The Delhi CM also targeted the Agniveer Scheme and said, “A scheme like Agniveer is harmful for the army and the youth are also troubled by it. The Agniveer scheme will be withdrawn…”
Aam Aadmi Party on its official X handle posted about the other guarantees. These guarantees include the soldiers for whom the Agniveer scheme will be closed and all military recruitments will be done according to the old process. All the fire warriors recruited so far will be confirmed.
For farmers of the country, the party promised that by determining the MSP on all crops according to the Swaminathan Commission, farmers will be provided full prices for their crops.
AAP also vowed to get Delhi the status of a full state.
On unemployment, AAP said that unemployment will be removed in a systematic manner and promised that two crore jobs will be created in the next one year.
The ninth guarantee caters to corruption in which the party said that the existing system of sending honest people to jail and giving protection to the corrupt will be abolished.
The tenth and last guarantee is related to business in which the AAP said that GST will be ended. He said that GST will be taken out of PMLA (The Prevention of Money Laundering Act) and all laws and administrative systems will be simplified to promote trade and industry on a large scale. (ANI)
New Delhi: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal being brought out of ED office to be taken to Rouse Avenue Court, in New Delhi,Thursday, March 28, 2024.His ED custody in liquor policy case ends today.(IANS)
The AAP chief was arrested on March 21 and has been in custody since then….reports Asian Lite News
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received a major relief as the Supreme Court ordered his release on interim bail until June 1 in the excise policy case.
A bench presided over by Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that the AAP supremo will have to surrender on June 2.
The Bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, said that a detailed order containing reasons for the decision will be uploaded later in the evening.
On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the grant of interim relief saying that a politician can claim no “special status” higher than that of an ordinary citizen and is as much liable to be arrested and detained for committing offences as any other citizen.
The affidavit filed by ED’s Deputy Director stated that there is no principle that justifies giving differential treatment to a politician for campaigning over a farmer or a businessman who wishes to pursue his vocation.
No political leader has been granted interim bail for campaigning even though Kejriwal is not the contesting candidate, said the affidavit, adding that even a contesting candidate is not granted interim bail for his own campaigning if he is in custody.
The ED contended that around 123 elections have taken place in the last five years and if interim bail is to be granted for campaigning, no politician can be arrested or sent to judicial custody since elections are all year-round phenomena.
In earlier hearings, the top court indicated that it may consider granting interim bail to the AAP leader in view of the ongoing general elections. It said this is an extraordinary situation and it is not that CM Kejriwal is a habitual offender.
Kejriwal had moved the apex court against the Delhi High Court’s April 10 judgment, which dismissed his plea challenging the ED arrest.
The AAP chief was arrested on March 21 and has been in custody since then.
This was after recent observations by the US and other countries in connection with the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said that India is a democratic nation with a robust judiciary which can not be compromised by any individual or any group.
Describing Indian democracy as unique, Vice President Dhankhar said India does not need lessons from anyone on the rule of law, in an oblique reference to recent observations by the US in connection with the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.
The Vice President made the remarks while attending a programme to inaugurate the renovated premises of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA).
Addressing the 70th Founders’ Day celebrations of the IIPA here, Dhankhar said that “equality before law is a new norm” in India today and the law is holding those accountable who think themselves beyond the law.
“But what do we see? The moment the law takes its course, they take to streets, high decibel debates, camouflaging culpability of the worst nature by human rights. This is happening under our nose,” he added.
Describing the Indian judiciary as robust, pro-people and independent, he questioned: “What is justification for a person or an institution or an organisation to take to the streets when the law is set in motion?”
Calling for deeper deliberations on this issue, Dhankhar asked: “Can people orchestrate, in complaining mode, a pernicious tendency to get away from the rule of law? How can one engaging in transgression of the law play the victim card?”
Saying that corruption is no longer rewarding, Vice President Dhankhar said: “Corruption is not a passage to opportunity, employment or a contract anymore. It is a passage to jail. The system is securing it.”
Praising the pro-people stand of the Indian judiciary, the Vice President said: “It is that institution of judiciary that has met at midnight, met on a holiday, and imparted relief.”
Further advocating India’s case for the UNSC seat, he said that “United Nations cannot be as protective and effective unless you have representation of a country like India that has a unique position of being the only country in the world to have constitutionally structured democracy at all levels”.
New Delhi, Mar 22 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Rouse Avenue Court after his Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand hearing in an alleged Delhi excise policy case, in New Delhi on Friday. He has been sent to ED custody till March 28 by the court. (ANI Photo)
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday sent CM Kejriwal to ED custody in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Friday remanded to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for seven days i.e., till March 28, a day after he was arrested by the probe agency in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case linked to a money laundering case.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday sent CM Kejriwal to ED custody in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.
Special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court passed the order after Kejriwal was produced on Friday following his arrest on Thursday night by the central probe agency.
Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vikram Chaudhari, and Ramesh Gupta along with Advocates Rajat Bharadwaj, Mudit Jain and Mohd Irshad appeared for the Delhi CM Kejriwal.
ASG SV Raju and Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared for the probe agency.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped.
“ED was asking for a 10-day remand. They said that to trace the money trail, a custodial investigation is necessary. Considering all aspects, the judge gave a 6-day custodial remand. He will be presented here again on 28 March. ED argued that the money used for the Goa elections was ill-gotten. They said they have statements of some witnesses which prove this fact.” Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer Madan Lal told reporters.
After the court’s decision, Atishi said that the party would explore all possible legal routes for further actions.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Rouse Avenue Court after his Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand hearing in an alleged Delhi excise policy case, in New Delhi on Friday. He has been sent to ED custody till March 28 by the court. (ANI Photo)
“We, very respectfully and humbly disagree with the decision of the court. ED has no proof even after 2 years of investigation… ED forced their witnesses to give statements against Arvind Kejriwal… We will explore all possible legal routes… One by one opposition parties are being targeted in front of the judiciary… Arvind Kejriwal will always be the CM of Delhi. There is no Constitutional bar on him not being the CM. He has not been convicted till now,” she said.
Terming the day as a “dark” one, Atishi further said that the ‘democracy in the country has been murdered today’.
“BJP wants to contest elections from behind the ED… Is ED a part of the BJP that the party is issuing their press release? To date, no proceeds of crime have been found by the ED against the AAP leaders… Today is a dark day in the history of democracy of the country. People of the country are seeing this murder of democracy which has been done today,” she added.
The arrest by the central agency has drawn severe criticism for the BJP-led centre from the opposition leaders.
Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot, while questioning the action by the federal agency said, “We met the family of Arvind Kejriwal after much delay… We have been saying from the very beginning that this case is false and the only motive is to stop Arvind Kejriwal. What recovery has been made by the ED till now?… It is the party’s stand that the CM should not resign. The government will be run from wherever the CM is. We have no problem with this and no law says he should resign…”
AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the ‘countdown of the Central government has begun on 21 March’ with the arrest of Delhi CM.
“… It is Arvind Kejriwal today, it can be someone else tomorrow. This government will spare no one… The world is supporting Arvind Kejriwal. And when things like this happen at a global scale, revolutions happen and governments are overturned. The countdown of the Central government has begun on 21 March… BJP supporters are also coming to us and saying, all was fine till now, but this has become a little too much,” he said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav voiced criticism of the arrest of Kejriwal, alleging that government institutions like ED, CBI, and income tax work as instruments for the government.
“These are government institutions, they’ll do what the government wants. This raises the question of whether in a democracy, institutions operate as instruments and are working as instruments to please the BJP. They are creating false cases to make records globally. They are not only making records globally but also creating records of false cases. The BJP is setting records in creating false cases worldwide,” said Akhilesh Yadav.
An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporter being detained during a protest against the arrest of CM Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged Delhi excise policy case, in Bhubaneswar on Friday. (ANI Photo)
Terming Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest “unethical and wrong,” Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Friday that he had never seen such an action against an elected Chief Minister.
“I have never seen such an action on an elected CM. When the Model Code of Conduct is implemented in the country, going to arrest a CM at night, has been opposed by all. This is very unethical and wrong. The Election Commission should intervene in this matter,” Pilot said.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and former Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhar Rao, whose daughter K Kavitha is also in ED custody in the same case called Kejriwal’s arrest a “dark day” in Indian democracy.
“The arrest of Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a dark day in the history of democracy of the country,” said a press statement by KCR.
Raising slogans “Arvind tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain” and “tyranny won’t last”, hundreds of AAP leaders and workers on Friday hit the streets to protest against the BJP over Kejriwal’s arrest, with AAP ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and others being detained earlier in the day.
Several protestors were bundled into buses as they gathered at the ITO intersection around 10.30 am to proceed towards the BJP office on the DDU Marg.
Paramilitary personnel in anti-riot gear were also deployed to maintain law and order.
As Delhi cabinet ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and others tried to proceed towards the BJP headquarters around 11 am, they were taken away in police buses.
Later, 21 workers including the ministers were released.
AAP leaders alleged that they were stopped by the police from meeting family members of the Delhi CM.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi alleged that the party leaders who marched towards the residence of Delhi CM Kejriwal in the Civil Lines area were stopped and not allowed to meet Kejriwal’s family.
“We have come to meet Arvind Kejriwal’s family but police and administration are not allowing us to go inside. Democracy can’t be murdered like this and we can’t be stopped from raising our voices. The people of Delhi are with Arvind Kejriwal,” Oberoi told ANI.
Later, selected AAP MLAs, Chief Whip Dilip K. Pandey, Mayor Shelly Oberoi, Cabinet Ministers Imran Hussain and Raaj Kumar Anand, were allowed to enter the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
The AAP will gherao the prime minister’s residence on March 26 to register its protest against Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED, the party’s leader Gopal Rai said on Friday.
Speaking to ANI, Rai said that the party will not celebrate Holi this year.
“People across the country have taken to the streets against this arrest… Tomorrow our ministers, councilors, officials, INDIA bloc leaders all will reach Shaheedi Park at 10 o’clock tomorrow to protest against this dictatorship…This year the Holi programme won’t take place. On 25 March we will go to people and tell them what is happening in the country… On 26 March whole of Delhi will gherao PM’s residence to mark a protest against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest,” the Delhi Minister said.
Meanwhile, jibing at the AAP leader, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said, “If no one has come today, then who is going to come after 2-4 days?… The people of Delhi are not even discussing them. No one is going to ask them.”
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, “I would like Gopal Rai to roam the streets of Delhi on March 25 and see with how much enthusiasm and joy the people of Delhi will celebrate Holi because on Holi, evil is destroyed and good wins. Yes, this time this work has been done in Delhi, evil has been destroyed.”
INDIA bloc leaders on Friday met the Election Commission against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and the alleged targeting of Opposition leaders across the country ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
The letter submitted to the poll body by INDIA on Friday asserted that “arrests, of individuals holding Constitutional posts are clearly intended to have a stifling and deleterious effect on the democratic functioning of the affairs of their respective states, as well as the parties themselves”.
The letter further read, “It is a move that is deliberately designed to demotivate and demoralise the members of these parties and the opposition at large. These arrested individuals, one of whom is the National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, and the other is the Working President of Jharkhand, Mukti Morcha, are elected leaders of our country who have championed the cause of those on the margins of our society, including our brothers and sisters belonging to the tribal communities.”
While Kejriwal was not named in the FIRs registered by the ED or the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Delhi excise policy case, his name first found a mention in the ED’s chargesheet wherein the agency claimed that he allegedly spoke to one of the main accused, Sameer Mahendru, in a video call and asked him to continue working with co-accused and AAP communications-in-charge Vijay Nair.
Nair was among the first people to be arrested by CBI in the case, in 2022. Subsequently, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh were arrested in connection with the case. (ANI)
