Tag: Aam Aadmi Party

revised fare for Auto Rickshaw and Taxi in Delhi

Delhi Govt Approves Revised Auto Rickshaw, Taxi Fares

By LokMarg

In the wake of rising CNG fares in Delhi over the last few months, the Delhi Government Friday approved the revised fare for Auto Rickshaw and Taxi in Delhi. This comes as a relief to nearly two lac Auto Rickshaw and Taxi drivers who had to bear more cost due to recent hikes in the CNG prices.

With the approval of the Delhi Government, the new fares for Auto Rickshaw and Taxi shall be applicable once these are notified in the coming weeks.

The last revision in the Auto Rickshaw fares happened in 2020 while that for Taxi which includes Black and Yellow Taxi, Economy taxis and Premium taxis, happened nine years back in 2013. In 2020, while the fare of CNG was Rs 47, it has now increased to Rs 78 by October 2022. Delhi’s Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot had received many representations from the Auto Rickshaw and Taxi associations/unions on this issue.

Hence, a committee of 13 members was formed in May 2022 to review and recommend the fare in the wake of the increasing rate of CNG, Cost and maintenance of Auto rickshaws and Taxi, and various other issues affecting the net earnings of Auto rickshaws and Taxi drivers.

The committee recommended revising the fare for Black and Yellow Taxi and Economy Taxi which was then reviewed and approved by the Delhi government. The committee also recommended not changing the existing fare for the Premium Taxi category to avoid them being too expensive for the users.

The revised fare approved by the Delhi government for Auto Rickshaw would be Rs 30 for an initial 1.5 Km, which was earlier Rs 25, The per Km fare (after the meter down) has been increased to Rs 11 from Rs 9.5, extra luggage has been revised to Rs 10. While the waiting charges per min remain undisturbed.

However, the revised fare approved for the taxies for meter down for an initial 1 Km (AC and Non Ac) have been increased to Rs 40 from Rs 25 (AC and Non Ac), and per Km fare (after meter down) has been increased to Rs 17 from Rs 14 (Non AC) and Rs 20 from Rs 16 (AC). (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

educational reformist Sonam Wangchuk kejriwal

Pictures Of Gods On Currency: Kejriwal Writes To Modi

By LokMarg

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to put pictures of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes stating that “it is a desire of 130 crore Indians.”

“I have written a letter to the Prime Minister, and have requested him on behalf of 130 crore Indians that the Indian currency notes should have photos of Lakshmi and Ganesha apart from that of Mahatma Gandhi,” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi along with the letter.
“It is the desire of the 130 crore people of the country that there should be a picture of Mahatma Gandhi on one side and of Ganesh and Lakshmi on the other side of the Indian currency. Today the economy of the country is passing through a very bad phase. Even after 75 years of independence, India is counted among the developing and poor countries. There are so many people still poor in our country. Why?” Kejriwal said in his letter to PM Modi.

Emphasizing that there is a need for the blessings of God to make our efforts fruitful, the Delhi Chief Minister said, “On one hand, we all countrymen need to work hard and on the other hand, we also need the blessings of God so that our efforts are fruitful. Only with the confluence of the right policy, hard work, and God’s blessings the country will be on the path of progress.”

Kejriwal further said that since he had demanded to put Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on banknotes there has been tremendous support from the general public.

“I publicly demanded this in a press conference. Since then there has been tremendous support from the general public on this issue. People are very excited about it. Everyone wants this to be implemented immediately,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kejriwal has appealed to Prime Minister Modi to consider including the images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on currency notes in India to “improve the economic situation of the country”.

“Today I appeal to the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Indian currency there is a photo of Gandhi ji, let that be, on the other side of currency, a photo of Shri Ganesh Ji and Lakshmi ji should be put.

“As I said we have to make a lot of effort to improve the economic situation of our country. But also with that, we need blessings from Gods and Goddesses. The whole country will get blessings if on currency notes, there is a photo of Ganesh Ji and Lakshmi ji on one side and Gandhi ji on other side,” Kejriwal said in his address.

“If Indonesia can do it; choose Ganesh Ji, so can we… I will write to the Centre tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to appeal for it… we need the Almighty’s blessings apart from the efforts to settle the economic condition of the country,” Kejriwal said.

Lord Ganesha is inscribed on the 20,000 rupiah note of Indonesia.

However, the Delhi Chief Minister faced backlash for his remark from several Opposition parties including the BJP.

Both BJP and Congress slammed the Delhi Chief Minister and termed his statement “vote bank politics” ahead of Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

Notably, India’s foreign exchange reserves during the week that ended on October 14 fell to an over two-year low of USD 528.367 billion, a drop of USD 4.5 billion from the previous week.

In the preceding week, the country’s foreign exchange reserves were at USD 532.868 billion, RBI data showed.

According to RBI’s data, India’s foreign currency assets, which are the biggest component of the forex reserves, declined by USD 2.828 billion to USD 468.668 billion during the week.

The value of gold reserves dropped by USD 1.5 billion to USD 37.453 billion during the week.

The value of India’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund declined by USD 149 million to USD 17.433 billion during the week under review, the RBI data showed. The reserves have been falling for months now because of RBI’s likely intervention in the market to defend the depreciating rupee against a surging US dollar.

For the record, the Indian rupee has been weakening over the past few weeks to hit fresh new all-time lows as the US dollar strengthened against major global currencies. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Anti-Dust Campaign: 253 Notices, ₹32.4L Worth Of Fines Issued

By LokMarg

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai chaired a review meeting with Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Environment Department officers to take stock of the Anti-Dust Campaign on Wednesday.

It was observed in the meeting that 6,868 construction sites had been inspected by officers under the Anti Dust Campaign. At the same time, notices/challans were issued to 253 sites; and fines of Rs 32.4 lakh were imposed for violation of guidelines issued at construction sites, said a press release.
Minister Gopal Rai stated, “In order to reduce the pollution of Delhi during the winter season, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the Winter Action Plan on 30 September. On the basis of this, the concerned departments have started work to implement it on the ground, added the statement.

Under the Anti Dust Campaign, the teams are constantly visiting construction sites. These teams will ensure that the construction guidelines are followed there. It is necessary to implement 14 norms on construction sites. The campaign was launched on October 6 and will run till November 6. If any site refuses to follow the rules of dust control, action will be taken against it as per law, added the statement.

According to the NGT guidelines, a fine ranging from 10,000 up to 5 lakh will be imposed for violation of the rule on the construction sites. If there is a severe violation then the construction site will be shut.”

Environment Minister directed the officials of the Environment Department to take daily reports from the teams regarding the Anti Dust Campaign. So far 6868 construction sites have been inspected. A total of 253 notices have been issued and fines of Rs 32.4 lakh have been imposed for non-compliance with guidelines at some construction sites.

Minister Gopal Rai appealed to the people of Delhi that if they find any irregularities in the construction/demolition work, then they should complain about it on Green Delhi App. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

AAP Govt Performance In Punjab

AAP Govt in Punjab is High on Showbiz, Low on Performance

By LokMarg

Mandeep Singh, an Advocate in Punjab High Court, says Bhagwant Mann Govt has lost much of its sheen after six months in office

The Aam Aadmi Party won Punjab assembly elections with a brute majority but it was the result of negative voting. Fed up with the alternate rule of Congress and Akali Dal, people of Punjab saw hope in the AAP as a new entrant. However, in just three months the credibility of AAP came to a ridiculous jolt when they lost the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-elections. This was a huge setback to AAP because Sangrur was considered as the party’s bastion. The seat was considered Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s is home turf.

I personally feel that the six-month old ruling party in Punjab indulges more in tom-tomming and show-off and has little to do with any change at the grassroots. Whatever they have done till date is cosmetic in nature. They are addressing the symptoms, not the cause.

AAP had promised to implement the Delhi Model in Punjab. What they do not know is that Punjab is a very complex state and nothing can be replicated here. Punjab is much larger than Delhi too and it has distinct issues that people take very sentimentally. For example, Arvind Kejriwal has compared Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain with Bhagat Singh. Now this may have repercussions here as people are not happy with the comparison.

CM Mann keeps photos of Dr. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh in his office but he does not follow their thoughts. This is only for public posturing and a sort of defence. Otherwise he has completely surrendered to Arvind Kejriwal.

ALSO READ: ‘Punjab Will Not Forgive AAP if it Failed to Deliver’

Already the youth have started protesting against the AAP government as they did in previous governments. The CM’s house is gheraoed by protestors on various issues almost daily. The government has lost its credibility in just six months. But I don’t think there is any problem to Bhagwant Mann personally as long as he plays to Delhi’s tune.

One major threat to Punjab in my opinion is the emergence of communal fault lines. AAP is already playing on the communal divisions like Sikh versus Hindu, Dalit Sikh versus Jatt Sikh, Dalit vs Christians. Remember Kejriwal’s statement ahead of elections in Punjab that “Hindus and traders in Punjab are worried. They have fears about internal security”. Now we have more than 40 per cent Hindu population and 33 per cent Dalits too. If some sort of communal polarisation takes place in future, it would certainly benefit the BJP.

Although they have kept a few pre-election promises like free power up to 300 units, there is a catch to it. I discovered the other day that I have not been getting power bills since April. When I enquired about it I was handed over a bill that showed far less units than my household usually consume. When I mentioned this to power officials, there was no response. So I presume they are generating random bills. I am worried if I will get a huge bill in near future.

Since AAP has fulfilled a few promises so people are largely of the opinion to give them more time; basically wait and watch. Punjab electorate is politically aware. It neither voted by heart for AAP not is disheartened by its betrayals. It is keeping a close eye on political developments.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

Ex-Cong Min Patil

Ex-Cong Min Patil Draws Link Between Jihad-Gita

By LokMarg

Former Union home minister and Congress veteran Shivraj Patil have stoked controversy with his recent claim that the concept of ‘jihad’ finds mention not only in the Quran but in the Bhagwad Gita and in Christianity as well.

At a book launch event in the national capital on Thursday, Patil said that Lord Krishna also taught lessons of jihad to Arjun in a part of Gita in the Mahabharat.
Patil’s remarks have drawn flak from the BJP which has hit out at the Congress for “Hindu hatred” and “votebank politics.”

“It’s said there is a lot of discussion on Jihad in Islam religion… Even after all efforts, if someone doesn’t understand clean ideas, then power can be used. It is not just in the Quran Sharif, but also in the Mahabharata of which Gita is a part,” Patil said.

“Shri Krishna also talks to Arjuna about jihad. It is not like this is only in the Quran Sharif or the Gita but in Christianity also it is written…Christ has said that I have not come here to establish peace but I have come here with sword,” Patil said.

Speaking in Hindi, the Congress leader said that “if even after explaining everything, people do not understand and they are arriving with weapons then you cannot run, you cannot call that jihad and you cannot call it wrong, this is what must be understood, there should not be this concept of making people understand with weapons in hand.”

Patil who was Union home minister from 2004 to 2008 and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996 was addressing the audience at a book launch of Congress leader and former Union Minister Mohsina Kidwai. Among the other dignitaries present at the launch were Shashi Tharoor, Digvijaya Singh, Farooq Abdullah, and Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Meanwhile, BJP has hit out at the “vote-bank politics” of the Congress.

“After AAP’s Gopal Italia & Rajendra Pal, not to be outdone in Hindu hatred & vote-bank politics, Congress’ Shivraj Patil says Shri Krishna taught “Jihad” to Arjun! Congress coined Hindu/Saffron terror, opposed Ram Mandir, Questioned Ram JI’s existence, said Hindutva = ISIS,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

Kharge To Take Charge As Cong Prez On Oct 26

By LokMarg

The Newly elected President of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge will take charge of the post on October 26 at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters. All Congress Working Committee members, MPs, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, CLP leaders, former CMs, former State presidents, and other AICC office bearers are invited to the program.

The invitation has been sent to all the above stakeholders by the General Secretary organization KC Venugopal
Congress is expected to resolve the Rajasthan Congress crisis soon after Kharge assumes his position, added the sources.

Also, Kharge will visit poll-bound states like Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat soon.

At the same time, after October 30, Congress will show its strength in Himachal and Gujarat elections. Between October 31 and November 10, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will hold four rallies and four road shows in Himachal. October 31 was specially chosen by Priyanka because former prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on this day.

Priyanka has said that, had Indira Gandhi not been murdered, her wish would have been to build a house in Himachal after retirement.

Vadra will hold rallies and roadshows in Mandi and Kullu on October 31; Kangra and Chamba on November 3; Hamirpur and Una on November 7 and Shimla and Sirmona on November 10.

On the other hand, on the day of the break of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi will step out of the place of the Yatra for the first time and address a big rally in Himachal in the first week of November to boost the party’s campaign.

Similarly, in Gujarat, after October 30, the programs of Priyanka and Rahul are being finalized. Rahul may not have gone to Delhi or elsewhere after taking a break from the Bharat Jodo Yatra but will go to campaign in the election states. In Gujarat, preparations are being made to organize road shows, rallies, and conferences like Mahila-Farmer-Dalit of both leaders.

That is, the Congress, which seems to be lagging behind in the campaign of the central leadership of BJP and AAP in Himachal and especially in Gujarat, is preparing to try hard in the election season of both states as soon as the festive week of Diwali ends. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

They Want To Make Delhi AAP-Nirbhar: Amit Shah

By LokMarg

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that his party is dedicated to making the national capital “Aatmanirbhar”.

“Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal gives press statements every day and publishes big advertisements. He thinks that press interviews will bring development and that people can be misled by publishing ads. AAP wants to make Delhi ‘AAPnirbhar’ while we want to make Delhi Aatmanirbhar,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said after inaugurating the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) Tehkhand waste-to-energy plant at Tughlakabad.
Shah in his address said that this plant can manage to process about 2,000 metric tonnes of garbage waste every day besides producing 25 megawatts of green energy.

“This plant will manage about 2000MT of garbage per day and produce 25 MW of green energy. This is a multi-dimensional, multi-purpose plant,” he said.

He further said that they will give reply to CM Kejriwal’s behavior with MCDs in a “democratic manner”.

“We will give a reply to Arvind Kejriwal’s behavior with MCDs in a democratic manner,” Shah said adding that he believed that they would establish daily waste processing facilities in Delhi by 2025 with the help of MCD.

“In future, such heaps and mountains of garbage won’t be seen,” he added.

Amit Shah further said, “People of Delhi need to decide if they like the politics of ‘Vigyapan’ (advertisement) or politics of ‘Vikas’ (development). People should also decide if they like ‘prachaar’ (campaign) politics or ‘parivartan’ (change) politics.” (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Firecracker Traders

Ban On Crackers With Jail Provision: Delhi Govt

By LokMarg

Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that the Delhi government has banned the production, storage, sale, and bursting of crackers this year as well with fines and jail terms in case of violation.

While addressing a press conference, Rai said “This year as well, there is a ban on production, sale, storage, and bursting of crackers.”
“Sale or storage of firecrackers in Delhi can be punished with a fine of Rs 5,000 and/or imprisonment for three years,” he said.

The minister further said that strict action will be taken against those bursting crackers before Diwali.

“Strict action will be taken against those who burst crackers till Diwali. Under section 268 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), there is a provision of a fine of Rs 200 and/or jail for 6 months against those who burst crackers,” he further said. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Manish Sisodia

Sisodia Leaves CBI HQ After 9 Hrs, Claims Was Asked To Quit AAP

By LokMarg

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia left the CBI headquarters in the national capital on Monday after nine hours of questioning in the excise policy case.

He was summoned by the Central agency following which the Aam Aadmi Party took out a rally in support of Manish Sisodia on the way to CBI headquarters earlier today.
Speaking to the media at his residence, Sisodia alleged that the case against him was intended not to probe any scam but to “make Operation Lotus successful in Delhi”.

“Today I saw in the CBI office that there’s no issue of any scam (excise policy case). The whole case is fake. I understood all that in the 9 hour-questioning today. The case isn’t to probe any scam against me, but to make Operation Lotus successful in Delhi,” he alleged.

Sisodia further claimed that he was asked inside the CBI office to leave AAP and said that he was offered to be made the Chief Minister.

“I was asked inside the CBI office to leave (AAP), or else such cases will keep getting registered against me. I was told ‘Satyendar Jain ke upar konse sachhe cases hain?’…I said I won’t leave AAP for BJP. They said they’ll make me CM,” he alleged.

According to a CBI official, the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister has not been summoned tomorrow, however, he could be summoned again later.

“CBI will evaluate the answers given by (Delhi Dy CM) Manish Sisodia and if needed, he will be summoned again later. No summons to Sisodia for tomorrow,” a CBI official said.

Sisodia had arrived for questioning earlier today amid the allegations by the party of his possible arrest in the case.

Addressing the workers of the party before going to the agency headquarter, Sisodia had called upon AAP workers to “feel proud if he is sent to jail”.

“They are preparing to send me to jail. CBI raided my residence but nothing was found. Don’t feel sorry if I am sent to jail, feel proud,” he said.

Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal linked Sisodia’s summons to the Gujarat Assembly elections later this year and alleged that his Deputy Chief Minister would be arrested.

“Nothing was found in Manish’s house raid, nothing was found in the bank locker. The case against them is completely false. He had to go to Gujarat for the election campaign. Arresting him to stop him from going. But the election campaign will not stop. Every person in Gujarat is promoting AAP today,” Kejriwal tweeted this morning.

On Sunday, AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that Sisodia “will be arrested”.

He also tried to draw parallels between the CBI summoning Sisodia with the upcoming Gujarat election. “CBI has summoned Manish Sisodia and will arrest him tomorrow. It has been alleged that a huge scam of Rs 10,000 crore has taken place and for that CBI and ED (Enforcement Directorate) have raided at at least 500 places so far. CBI raided Sisodia’s residence for 14 hours, but they could not find anything,” said AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj.

“This is directly linked with Gujarat elections as AAP competes with the BJP there and hence is scared. Manish Sisodia will be arrested to stop his programmes but the AAP will only grow stronger,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP lashed out at the AAP for the show of strength in the rally and called it a “celebration of corruption”.

“When Rahul Gandhi was summoned by ED, then also Congress started doing drama like this. It will not be an exaggeration to say that it is a celebration of corruption. First, they did corruption while giving liquor licences in Delhi and now they are doing all this drama,” Patra said.

“The way Manish Sisodia was raising slogans in an open car on the streets along with his supporters today, it seems as if Aam Aadmi Party has won the World Cup of corruption. Arvind Kejriwal was a part of Anna Hazare’s Andolan and used to say that he will finish corruption, but now it seems AAP has itself become the most corrupt party in the country,” Patra further said. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Bhagat Singh's Relative Slams

Bhagat Singh’s Relative Slams Kejriwal For comparing Sisodia With Freedom Fighter

By LokMarg

Slamming Arvind Kejriwal for comparing his deputy Manish Sisodia and minister Satyendar Jain with Bhagat Singh, a close relative of the freedom fighter, Harbhajan Singh Dhath, on Monday asked the Delhi Chief Minister to “fight his fights politically”.

Dhath also asked Kejriwal to refrain from “equating” criminals with freedom fighters and suggested that he “concentrate” on the “miserable” condition of Punjab, where the Aam Aadmi Party was voted to power earlier this year with a thumping majority.
Kejriwal on Sunday had equated Sisodia who is facing a probe in the alleged excise policy case, and jailed minister Jain, with Bhagat Singh. “Jail bars and hanging noose could not deter Bhagat Singh’s resolute intentions. This is the second fight for freedom. Manish and Satyendar are today’s, Bhagat Singh. After 75 years, the country got an education minister who gave good education to the poor and gave hope for a bright future,” he had tweeted.

Speaking to ANI, the relative of the freedom fighter lambasted the Delhi Chief Minister and asked “what political mileage did he want from it?”

“Why are criminals caught in corruption cases being compared with martyrs? What political mileage did he want from it? Whatever your fight, fight it politically. Do not equate them with the martyrs. It is not only about Bhagat Singh but also do not equate anybody with other freedom fighters,” Dhath said.

“It was never his (Bhagat Singh’s) mission to be elected to power or else he could have survived and would not have been hanged… They should concentrate on the condition Punjab is in today,” he added.

The freedom fighter’s relative asked Kejriwal to follow Bhagat Singh’s vision but not “equate anybody” with him.

“There could not be a more shameful thing than comparing Satyendar Jain with Bhagat Singh. He is lodged in jail for months and the court is denying him bail. And you compare him with Bhagat Singh. We do not have any problem if you follow his vision, but do not equate anybody with Bhagat Singh,” Dhath said.

Calling the condition of Punjab “miserable”, he said that the people who voted them to power can also remove them from the top position.

“People have brought you to power (in Punjab), but if they can bring you to power, they also know how to remove you. The condition of Punjab is miserable. It was unimaginable to think that you would do such a thing to Punjab after coming to power,” he said.

“We have seen it earlier also that they took his name before the elections. I want to ask Kejriwal why did you need it? People know Bhagat Singh, he does not need recognition from the political parties. People respect him across the country and consider him an idol,” Dhath added.

Kejriwal’s remarks had come after his deputy Manish Sisodia was issued summon by the CBI in the excise policy case, in which Sisodia is one of the accused. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/