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Kejriwal’s car attacked in Punjab

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kejriwal-car-punjab

Ludhiana: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had a narrow escape on Monday when some men armed with iron rods attacked his car here, coming “within an inch of grievously injuring” him, the AAP said.

Kejriwal, whose five-day tour of Punjab ends later in the day, tweeted that his car was attacked with sticks and stones, breaking the front glass pane.

“Badals and Congress nervous? They can’t break my spirits,” the Aam Aadmi Party leader added.

AAP leader Ashish Khetan called it a “well orchestrated attack” and said the “goons sent by Badals attacked Kejriwal’s car with stones and rods as police stood by.

“The attackers came within an inch of grievously injuring Kejriwal. It was only by god’s grace that he escaped unhurt,” Khetan added.

The AAP gave no further details. It was not immediately clear if Kejriwal, who usually sits to the left of the driver, continued with his journey or not.

The AAP put out a photograph showing the shattered front glass pane with a visibly worried Punjab police officer standing close by. The car appeared to be stranded on a rural road, with a police vehicle in the front.

The AAP has emerged as a major player ahead of assembly elections in Punjab due next year.

(IANS)

Odd-even scheme starts in Delhi, overwhelmed by ‘success’, says Kejriwal

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New Delhi: Each time an even-numbered vehicle was flagged down here, the offending motorist was offered a rose — and some counselling about the rising pollution levels in the national capital.

The scene was a busy traffic intersection near Noida where a number of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers were assisting Delhi Police personnel in keeping a tab on vehicles following the launch on Friday of the odd-even scheme for restricting movement of cars.

There were no police barricades near the Delhi-Noida border in the morning and the volunteers tried to ensure a smooth flow of traffic on the road. The volunteers, however, flagged down a few even-numbered four-wheelers and went up to the driver to present a rose, reflecting a Gandhian spirit.

They also counselled the motorists to follow the Delhi government’s odd-even plan and asked them to return. While some vehicle owners followed the instructions, others gave their reasons for not being able to comply with the plan.

Shiv Kumar Sharma, a civil defence volunteer from Geeta Colony circle in east Delhi, said his group was able to persuade some motorists to turn back. “We are here since 7 a.m. We are giving roses to people and couselling them about the odd-even formula. So far, we have persuaded around a dozen people to turn back,” he said.

“Some people said they were going to hospital or there was an emergency. We did let them go.”

The roses were provided by the area district magistrate’s office.

Another civil defence volunteer, who did not wish to be named, said his group refrained from entering into any argument with the violators and requested them to comply with the rule.

“We cannot prosecute people. The police will do that,” he said, adding that the police were cooperating with them.

There were a few commuters who stopped by to cheer the volunteers. “This is a very good initiative. The volume of traffic has come down,” said Dinesh Singhal, a biker.

The odd-even scheme that allows odd- and even-numbered private vehicles to ply on the city roads on alternate days aims at reducing air pollution levels. The scheme started here on Friday on a trial basis and will end on January 15.

(IANS)

Odd-even scheme starts in Delhi, overwhelmed by ‘success’, says Kejriwal

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delhi-traffic-pollution-cars

New Delhi: Delhi government’s odd-even scheme on car movement to curb pollution in the national capital started on Friday.

As per the rule, cars with odd-number registration would be allowed to ply on Friday.

Those not abiding the rule would be fined Rs.2,000.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was “overwhelmed” by the response of people towards the odd-even scheme here.

“I am truly overwhelmed by the response we have received so far. There are very less even-numbered cars on the roads. The plan seems to have been successful,” he told media.

He said the people of Delhi accepted the scheme “whole-heartedly”, adding “I am confident that in next five years people will show the way to rest of the country”.

“Delhi has done it! Reports so far very encouraging. Delhiites! You give me hope that you are capable of achieving big challenges,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

“I am pooling my car and going to office with two ministers, my personal secretary and my joint secretary,” he said.

Mooted by the Delhi government, the odd-even scheme that allows odd and even-numbered private vehicles on the city roads on alternate days aims at reducing air pollution levels in the national capital.

(IANS)

Delhi govt bureaucrats on mass leave against suspension order

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New Delhi: Delhi government bureaucrats today went on mass leave to protest against the suspension of two DANICS-cadre officers even as the Union Home Ministry declared the suspension as null and void.

 

A day after two senior civil service officers of the Home Department were suspended by the AAP government for refusing to sign on a Cabinet decision file, around 200 DANICS officers went on mass leave while 70 IAS officers have gone on half-day leave, showing solidarity with the suspended officers.

The action was taken against Yashpal Garg, special secretary (Prosecution), and Subhash Chandra, after they refused to sign a file pertaining to the Cabinet decision to increase salary of public prosecutors.

However, the Union Home Ministry termed the suspension as null and void.

Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) are selected through civil service exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Only the Delhi Lt Governor can suspend DANICS-cadre officers with permission from the Union Home Ministry.

Reacting to the protest, Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain said DANICS and IAS officers do not have the right to go on strike as it is against their service rule.

Unfazed by IAS and DANICS officers associations’ decision to skip WORK today, he said, “People will be happy if they go on strike. All system pertaining to governance is based online today and government will not suffer.”

The Delhi Home Minister further said that Delhi government was ready to grant all officers even one month or 15-day leave if they apply for the same.

“The two officers were suspended for not implementing Cabinet decision on December 28. If they had any problem with my order, they should have approached Chief Minister not LG.Lt Governor has already asked officers to defy government decision,” he charged.

“I know that by the evening, LG will declare the suspension of two officers by Delhi Government as null and void,” Jain said here.

Jain said that if officers working in the Delhi government have any problem, they can get themselves transferred to the LG office, adding that government will not tolerate “disobedience”.

Jain also alleged that BJP is provoking Delhi Government officers to go on strike.

The DANICS Officers’ Association comprise around 200 members who hold crucial posts including that of SDM, Secretary to minister and special secretary.

“Delhi Government does not have power to suspend any DANICS officer and it can only recommend suspension of DANICS officer and on this, LG can suspend him or her with permission from MHA,” a representative of the association said.

Earlier this month, Kejriwal had also suspended two sub-divisional magistrates for failing to provide instant relief to victims whose shanties were demolished by Railways in West Delhi’s Shakur Basti area.

However, these two SDMs are still holding their posts and doing their work.

(Agencies)

Kejriwal seeks Modi’s resignation, attacks Jaitley

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New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation for ordering a CBI raid on his office.

Launching his fiercest attack yet on the prime minister, Kejriwal told the Delhi assembly that the CBI raided his office – notwithstanding the CBI’s denials – because it was looking for a file on the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

“I demand Prime Minister Modi’s resignation for the fraudulent raid he ordered to save (Finance Minister) Arun Jaitley,” who had headed the DDCA for years, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said to thumping of desks by his party colleagues.

Kejriwal also asked Modi to sack Jaitley because of his involvement in the DDCA, where critics have alleged largescale financial bungling. Jaitley has claimed innocence in the entire affair.

If Jaitley was indeed innocent, he should prove this to the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Delhi government, he said.

“He should feel ashamed,” Kejriwal thundered, referring to Modi and the December 15 raid by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which has denied searching Kejriwal’s office and said that it only targeted his principal secretary Rajendra Kumar for corruption.

December 15, the chief minister said, was “a black day” for India.

Kejriwal accused Modi of constantly interfering in the functioning of the AAP government.

He said he had urged Modi to let the AAP government work without interference but “he did not agree”.

“The CBI said the chief minister was not raided… Only his principal secretary’s office was raided. If this is indeed true, why did they enter my office?” Kejriwal asked.

He said they were looking for a file on the DDCA, and alleged that despite 50 hours of interrogation spread over six days, the CBI had not been able to build a case of corruption against Rajendra Kumar. “They are mentally torturing him.”

Kejriwal poked fun at Modi for wearing a Rs.10 lakh suit last year, and demanded to know how a “chai wala” (tea seller) could afford such a costly suit.

The AAP leader denied accusations that his party had earlier advocated independence for the CBI but had now done a U turn.

“Even today we say that the CBI should be independent. And the day it becomes independent, it will not raid Rajendra Kumar… It will send a notice to Modi to ask where you got Rs.10 lakh to buy the suit.

“The CBI is not independent. Don’t fool the people.”

(IANS)

DDCA row: Jaitley files defamation complaint against Kejriwal

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arun jaitley

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday filed a criminal defamation complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders for making what he said were false allegations about irregularities in the DDCA.

Jaitley said the allegations levelled by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders will cause “irreversible damage to his reputation”.

Advocate Sidharth Luthra told the court that the minister did not take “a single penny” from the Delhi and District Cricket Association and that Kejriwal and AAP leaders had made defamatory and baseless charges.

“No member of the family of Jaitely is involved in any capacity with the companies involved in the DDCA case,” Luthra told the court.

He cited Facebook and Twitter posts of AAP leaders to show how Jaitley was defamed.

In his complaint against Kejriwal, Jaitley also named AAP leaders Kumar Vishwas, Raghav Chadha, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and Deepak Bajpai.

Jaitley, who headed the DDCA for 13 years till 2013, has been accused of corruption by Delhi’s ruling AAP. He has denied the charges.

Kejriwal has demanded that Jaitley must resign from the government or be removed as finance minister to enable an independent probe into the DDCA affairs.

(Agencies)

DDCA row: AAP poses 5 questions to Jaitley

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arun jaitley

New Delhi: The AAP today put “five specific” questions to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley relating to its allegations of corruption in Delhi’s cricket body DDCA under his watch and accused him of giving “vague” response to the charges.

Calling Jaitley a “master of half truth and beautiful lies”, AAP leader Ashutosh made certain fresh allegations against the Finance Minister and said his comments that there was no specific charges against him was “misleading”.

Jaitley has strongly rejected the allegations calling them a propaganda technique of Kejriwal to deflect attention when he himself was in the “dock” following a CBI raid in Delhi Secretariat.

Addressing a press conferencehere, Ashutosh accused DDCA of allowing private firm 21st Century to sub-lease 10 corporate boxes at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium and claimed the firm owned by a friend of Jaitley was extended financial benefit to the tune of over Rs 5 crore for the deal.

The AAP leader asked Jaitley to clarify who were members of the 21st Century and whether it had any of his kin.

The AAP leader also accused Jaitley of putting pressure on ONGC to give an amount of Rs 5 crore to Hockey India and sought to know what was the reason behind it.

Alleging huge financial bungling in reconstruction of the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, the AAP leader said although public sector entity EPIL was paid Rs 57 crore for the project the remaining Rs 57 crore out of the total expenditure of Rs 114 crore was distributed among nine companies.

“The registered address, e-mail and directors of these companies were same. Did Jaitley know about these companies and is it not corruption,” asked the AAP leader.

On Jaitley’s comments that the SFIO report had absolved him, Ashutosh said the Finance Minister hid the fact that punishment for offences mentioned by the central agency included imprisonment.

“We had raised specific questions and Jaitley gave vague answers. That is why we are coming out with five specific questions for him,” AAP leader Sanjay Singh said.

The AAP leaders also asked Jaitley to tell about his relationship with Hockey India chief Narendra Batra.

They said Delhi Government last month had set up committee to probe irregularities in DDCA after getting a communication in this regard from Union Sports Ministry. They said Home Ministry had communicated to Sports Ministry about irregularities in DDCA following which it wrote to Delhi Government.

Following a CBI raid in Delhi Secretariat in connection with charges against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar, AAP has been claiming that the Central agency carried out the searches to target the AAP chief and was looking for a file relating to graft in DDCA.

Since then, the party has been demanding resignation of Jaitley from the Union Cabinet.

(PTI)

Will step in if Centre obstructs Delhi Janlokpal Bill: Anna Hazare

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Anna-Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi: Social activist Anna Hazare today said he will step in if the NDA government at the Centre puts obstructions in the way of Janlokpal Bill, introduced in Delhi Assembly by the AAP government.

The anti-corruption crusader was talking to reporters after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh met him at his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district to brief him on the salient features of the Janlokpal Bill, tabled in Delhi Assembly by the Arvind Kejriwal government yesterday.

Hazare said that during his discussions with the AAP leaders, he expressed apprehension that the Centre may pose obstructions as the legislation provides for probing corruption in Delhi, where the central government offices are located.

“If that is the case then I assured them of my full support. I told them I am with them,” Hazare said when asked if he would launch an agitation on the issue.

He said the central government lacks the will to fight corruption and there should be no “parochial attitude” on the issue of dealing with graft.

Hazare and some top activists of his team had in 2012 parted ways with the Kejriwal-led group, opposing their plans to form a political party, after a roller-coaster ride of 18 months in which they came together to run a high-steam anti-graft movement. One of its prominent poll promises, the AAP emphasised that the Bill is similar to its original 2011 version.

It will empower the proposed ombudsman to act against any public servant in the national capital, including those of the Centre.

While the draft bill of 2015 states that no prosecution or legal proceedings can be initiated against the Janlokpal or any staff member of the Janlokpal office, AAP leaders said the process of impeachment will be applied for removal of any member of the Lokpal.

The Bill has to be cleared by the Lieutenant Governor before it becomes a law.

AAP’s Lokpal ‘mahajokepal’, Bhushan tears into Kejriwal

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A file photo of activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan. Photo: PTI

A file photo of activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan today accused Arvind Kejriwal of playing the “biggest fraud” on people by diluting the provisions of the Jan Lokpal draft of the Anna movement while Shanti Bhushan demanded the Delhi Chief Minister’s resignation.

Bhushan read out certain provisions of the draft Bill, that is yet to be made public by the Delhi government. He claimed that Ministers and officials of the Centre were put under the ambit of the proposed legislation “deliberately” to provoke confrontation.

He said Kejriwal does not like to be questioned like “Modi” so he has chosen not to make the contents of the Bill public.

“No activist or movement in India’s history has played such a big fraud with people. This will only ensure that the Central government does not approve and the Bill never gets passed. Kejriwal never had the intention to form a strong Lokpal body,” the former AAP leader said.

Dissident AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar, who was also present at the presser at Bhushan’s Noida residence, claimed that he had managed to get hold of its copy in his capacity as a member of the Business Advisory Committee.

Bhushan questioned the appointment and removal processes of the Lokpal laid out in the Bill, which was recently cleared by the AAP Cabinet, saying they would put the Ombudsman at the mercy of the city government.

The Bill purportedly says that a four-member selection committee, comprising the Chief Minister, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Delhi High Court Chief Justice would appoint the Lokpal, while the removal can be ensured by a motion in the Assembly with two-thirds majority.

“Even the Centre’s Lokpal Act, which has been termed as jokepal by Kejriwal, is stronger than this Bill. This is a ‘mahajokepal’. Kejriwal must resign from office,” senior Bhushan said.

They said by expanding the jurisdiction of the Lokpal, by proposing to bring Centre under its ambit was uncalled for and aimed at stoking another fight. “In all the draft Lokpals that we have prepared till date, state Lokayuktas are not supposed to have any such powers.”

The father-son duo also slammed the alleged provision which stipulates one-year imprisonement for false complaints, which they said will only deter complainants. “So the falsity is to be decided by a sarkari lokpal?” they asked.

“We can now understand why this draft was kept under the wraps. The plan was to pass this maha jokepal Bill and then play victim by claiming that the Centre is obstructing it. Will say nahi karne diya ji,” Bhushan said in a mocking tone.

(Agencies)

AAP workers hold protest outside BJP MLA’s house

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New Delhi: Scores of Aam Aadmi Party workers today held protest outside the house of BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma in Karkardoma area over his alleged derogatory remarks against AAP MLA Alka Lamba, demanding permanent suspension of the lawmaker from Delhi Assembly.

Protestors, most of them women, raised slogans against the BJP MLA, saying they would not “tolerate the insult of woman.”

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ramniwas Goel yesterday suspended Sharma till Thursday for using derogatory language against the Chandani Chowk MLA during a discussion on night shelters.

“Suspension is not enough. Sharma made derogatory remarks against a woman MLA and strict action needs to be taken against him,” said an AAP woman worker.

In view of the protest, police erected barricades outside Sharma’s residence to prevent protestors.

“BJP MLA has no right to continue as a legislator. He should be suspended from the Delhi Assembly,” said another AAP woman worker.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday expressed his shock over the comments and hoped BJP would take action against him.

“Am shocked at language used by O P Sharma, BJP MLA, against a lady MLA. 2 days back also, he abused a lady MLA. Hope BJP will act against him (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted.

Due to AAP MLAs’ protest, House proceedings were disrupted and Speaker had to adjourn Assembly twice.

AAP’s women legislators demanded Sharma’s permanent suspension from the House.

(Agencies)

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