Tag: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chhath Puja

Delhi Govt To Organise Chhath Puja At 1100 Sites With ₹25-Cr Budget

By LokMarg

Delhi government will organize Chhath Puja at 1100 ghats this year for which the government has approved a budget of ₹25 crores to facilitate lakhs of devotees in offering their prayers on Chhath.

Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot on Friday held a review meeting on the preparedness of Chhath Puja in the national capital.

The meeting was attended by Burari MLA Sanjiv Jha, the Divisional Commissioner, and all the District Magistrates of Delhi.

During the meeting, the Revenue Minister directed the department to ensure that the devotees should not face any inconvenience.

He also directed the officers concerned to ensure smooth management and operationalization of all the 1100 sites of the Chhath Puja Celebration in Delhi. For this government has approved 25 crores this year to facilitate lakhs of devotees in offering their prayers on Chhath.

In Delhi, the Revenue Department is the nodal department for the celebration of Chhath Puja in a safe, secure, and eco-friendly manner with full festivity.

The Revenue Department will make the necessary arrangements for tent and electrical items; such as tents, chairs, tables, lighting, sound system, CCTV, LED screens, power backup, and so on at all the 1100 Puja sites.

Furthermore, the Revenue Department will ensure the provision for the other required facilities in coordination with other departments of the Delhi Government such as the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for clean water arrangements, Health Department for primary health services and deployment of Ambulances, DUSIB for Mobile Toilet Vans (MTVs) and with agencies such as Delhi Police and CDV for safety and security, Traffic Police for Traffic Management and MCD/NDMC for sanitation and cleanliness.

The Delhi Government has grown the celebration of Chhath Puja from 69 sites in 2014 to a whopping 1100 sites and increased the budget ten times from 2.5 crores in 2014 to approx. 25 Crore this year to facilitate lakhs of devotees in offering their prayers on Chhath.

In a statement, Revenue Minister of Delhi Kailash Gahlot said, ”We are committed to ensuring a grand celebration of Chhath Puja in Delhi. This year, the scale of the celebration would be unprecedented. We are ready with appropriate arrangements to ensure smooth execution in a safe and secure manner all over Delhi.”

Chhath Puja is one of the most auspicious festivals in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The festival is dedicated to Surya Bhagwaan (Sun God), which people believe sustains life on Earth. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Delhi Effigy Makers

Delhi Effigy Makers Back In Business After Two Bad Fiscal Years

By LokMarg

Today is Vijayadashami, and the excitement of the festive spirit is at its peak!

Every year, Dussehra is celebrated to commemorate the triumph of good over evil as Lord Rama killed Ravana on this day. The festival is celebrated in full swing across the country, by burning the effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnath.
After a hiatus of a few years, the effigy business is getting back on track.

Earlier, we spoke to a local artisan from Titarpur in New Delhi – Naveen, and he revealed, “People are coming back in huge numbers to book Ravan effigies. Due to Covid, during the past few years, the business was not so good, but things are getting better now and customers are back. But now, the rates of effigies are a bit high as compared to previous times, now it costs Rs 500 per foot. We began the preparation 2 months ahead of the festival and we start the deliveries 2 days before Dussehra.”

“During Covid, Ravan idols were made in fewer numbers, we used to create only small mannequins of 5 feet and 10 feet, for the common people who can burn those effigies on the streets. But this year, the situation is quite different, we are celebrating every festival and the effigy business is also going really well, and the craze among the people for Dussehra is very high and we are flooded with bookings this year. This year we will see a good hike in sales, we have been working day and night for the past two months to create these effigies. We create effigies from 5 feet to 50 feet and the pricing begins from Rs 500 per foot, “Sonu, a local artist said.

On being asked whether the firecracker ban has affected the sales in Delhi or not, Naveen said, “No, it doesn’t matter, we only construct the effigies, it’s the customer’s choice to put firecrackers in it or not, they do it by themselves.” People opt for eco-friendly firecrackers to create less pollution during Dussehra. “

In a conversation with ANI, effigy maker Poonam said, “Yes, we are facing a big loss due to the firecracker ban by the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi.” Every year, CM Kejriwal puts a ban on firecrackers, during Diwali everyone bursts crackers, but only during Dussehra, he put a ban on them. We don’t put crackers in the effigies, people bring them and put them on their own. But because of the ban, there has been a huge downfall in the number of clients. Mostly, the customers cancel their already booked orders due to the ban. If the government doesn’t want us to do our business, then simply tell us. We don’t want to face loss at the last moment. “

“The number of firecrackers has now been reduced from 500 to 300 by CM Kejriwal. We don’t put crackers in the mannequins, that’s the customer’s call whether to put crackers or not,” Mahendra Karari, Ravan effigy creator told ANI.

Apart from making effigy during the festive season, local vendors indulge in their different businesses for the rest of the year for their source of income.

“Dussehra festival comes once a year, and we have our other source of income as well. I am a driver for the whole year. But during Dussehra, I make Ravan since my childhood in Titarpur, said Naveen.

Karari said, “We work in the hotel line during the whole year, and some of our work in brass bands during the marriage season, and some people work at local sweet shops.”

In some regions, the celebration—also known as Vijayadashami—celebrates Goddess Durga’s triumph over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Anti-Smog Guns Delhi

Delhi Makes Anti-Smog Guns Compulsory For All Construction Sites

By LokMarg

As stubble burning season begins in north India and with pollution levels in the national capital increasing, the Delhi government has begun started implementing its Winter Action Plan.

The Delhi government has made it compulsory for construction sites with an area of 5,000 sq metres or more to install anti-smog guns.
Now Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures will be implemented 3 days in advance based on forecasts before the air quality worsens.

While addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, ”The Environment Department has prepared a 15-point Winter Action Plan.” “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will present this 15-pointer Winter Action Plan in front of the people of Delhi on September 30.”

Gopal Rai said, ”This time, the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also made certain changes in the GRAP measures.” We are developing our Plan of Action, keeping in mind the advice of the CAQM, to be brought in force from October 1st. The major shift in the upcoming plan from the erstwhile system is that previously, the basic parameter was PM 2.5 and PM 10. On the basis of this parameter, the level of pollution was bifurcated into five categories: Moderate, Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe Plus.”

”Now, instead of gauging the level of pollution on the basis of PM 2.5 and PM 10 values, monitoring will be done on the basis of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the GRAP measures will be implemented in Delhi accordingly. There will be four categories of levels of pollution instead of five in the new plan: Poor (AQI 201-300), Very Poor (AQI 301-400), Severe (401-450), Severe Plus (AQI 450+). The modification made in the GRAP measures is that, previously, it was implemented after the air quality falls below a certain. Now, the garb system will be implemented three days prior to reaching the level on the basis of estimation. AQI will be calculated on the basis of forecasts of IITM and IMD,” he added.

He said, ”Regarding the dust pollution in Delhi, it was mandatory to install an anti-smog gun on site with an area greater than 20,000 sq metre till now. But now there is a modification in this provision and now the construction site sized between 5000 sq metres to 10000 sq metres are required to have anti-smog guns. A construction site with an area between 5 thousand sq metres to 10 thousand sq metres needs to have one anti-smog gun.”

”Construction sites sized between 10 thousand sq metres to 15000sq metres are required to have two anti-smog guns and sites having sizes between 15000 sq metres and 20,000 sq metres need to have three anti-smog guns. Construction sites with an area greater than 20 thousand sq metres are required to have four anti-smog guns.” He continued.

The Environment Minister concluded, ”I held a meeting with all the officials of DPCC yesterday. Last year, we worked together with all the agencies working on construction sites in Delhi to keep a noose on pollution. Today, I want to appeal to them to follow the new provisions related to the installation of anti-smog guns, which now cover sites with an area of between 5,000 sq metres to 10,000 sq metres as well. We run an anti-dust campaign every year and it will be mandatory as per the Winter Action Plan to follow this provision. Action would be taken against all those agencies who violate this provision. ” (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Conference NHRIs Of Asia Pacific

Murmu Condoles The Demise Of Raju Srivastav

By LokMarg

President Droupadi Murmu, on Wednesday, paid rich tributes to comedian Raju Srivastav, who breathed his last at the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after being admitted on August 10 following a heart attack.

Taking to Twitter, Murmu tweeted in Hindi, “The untimely demise of comedian Raju Srivastav is extremely sad. He had enthralled the audience with his comical performances. He gave a new identity to the comedy scene in India. My condolences to his family and fans.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, too, mourned the demise of Raju Srivastav.

“Saddened to hear about the demise of famous comedian Raju Srivastava Ji. May God give place to the departed soul at his feet. My condolences to his family and all his fans in this time of sorrow (sic),” AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal wrote on his official Twitter account.

Raju Srivastav, 58, was in the entertainment industry since the 1980s and shot to fame after participating in the first season of the reality stand-up comedy show ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ in 2005. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Apart from President Murmu and Delhi’s CM Arvind Kejriwal, other political leaders such as Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and Akhilesh Yadav among others have also paid condolences over the demise of Raju Srivatasv. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Kejriwal

Kejriwal Greeted With Modi-Modi Chants In Gujarat

By LokMarg

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was greeted with chants of “Modi-Modi” as he arrived at the Vadodara airport in Gujarat.

Later, the chants of “Kejriwal-Kejriwal” were also heard.
Kejriwal is on a day-long visit to the poll-bound state of Gujarat where he will address a town hall meeting in Vadodara.

Kejriwal, on being confronted with the chants of his political opponent and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name, could be seen smiling while moving towards the mediapersons.

However, he did not speak at the spot and said he would interact at the press conference.

Reacting to the incident, BJP’s Priti Gandhi tweeted, “Arvind Kejriwal being accorded a warm welcome in Modi’s Gujarat!!”

The AAP is looking to set foot in Gujarat where the party could not open its account in the previous Assembly elections. After a massive victory in Punjab, the party is looking to spread its wings to other parts of the country.

In his attempt to reach out to the people of Gujarat, Kejriwal has paid multiple visits to the state leaving no stone unturned in hitting out at the BJP’s 27-year rule and lauding the Delhi model promising to implement the same if the party comes to power.

Kejriwal has promised the people of the state a slew of “guarantees” which he claims will be fulfilled.

Earlier on September 13, during his visit to Ahmedabad, the AAP leader had alleged that the BJP is trying to make Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi as the “Prime Minister through the backdoor” and “successor” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kejriwal was responding to a question about BJP leaders stating that social activist Medha Patkar would be AAP’s chief ministerial candidate in the Gujarat assembly polls.

“I have heard that BJP will make Sonia Gandhi as the PM candidate after PM Modi. Ask them what they have to say on this. Ask them that Kejriwal has alleged that you are going to make Sonia Gandhi PM candidate and the successor to PM Modi at the national level. What do they have to say on this? The BJP is trying to make Sonia Gandhi the PM of the country through the backdoor. Ask them this question,” Kejriwal had said.

Kejriwal alleged that the BJP “has not done anything” for the development of Gujarat and claimed it has “no programme for the next five years”.

Kejriwal also claimed that the Congress party is “finished” in Gujarat. “Congress is finished. You should stop taking their questions. People no more care about their questions,” Kejriwal said in response to a query. (ANI)

Read More:http://13.232.95.176/

Kejriwal

Kejriwal On 8 Cong MLAs Joining BJP: It’s Congress’ Fault

By LokMarg

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday reacted to the eight Congress MLAs joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa and alleged it was the former’s fault for not being able to save its MLAs in the country.

“BJP is breaking MLAs by giving crores of rupees to them across the country in the name of Operation Lotus, this is wrong. But the fault is also of Congress,” Kejriwal said addressing a press conference in the national capital.
“They could not break our MLAs in Delhi-Punjab because we expose them, but Congress has failed to save its MLAs,” he added.

His remarks came hours after eight Goa Congress MLAs including former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa on Wednesday.

Delilah Lobo, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes also joined the party after meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the Goa Assembly complex during the day.

Taking a jibe at the Centre, Kejriwal further asked where the crores of money are coming to them. He accused BJP of ‘siphoning off’ the public’s money and said it has resulted in an increase in the inflation rate.

“Where are the thousands of crores to buy the MLAs coming from? This is the money of the government, which is being siphoned off, thus increasing inflation,” said Kejriwal mentioning that the “BJP tried its Operation Lotus in every state including Punjab.”

Days ago on September 4, Gujarat Youth Congress President Vishwanathsinh Vaghela resigned from his post which is considered to be a major jolt for the party.

On September 2, party leader Rajinder Prasad, who is also the son of late Master Beli Ram Sharma from Nowshera, Rajouri, resigned from all posts and the primary membership of the party. Prasad blamed the ‘coterie’ system for being a reason for the ‘demise’ of the party.

In recent months, Rajinder Prasad and several high-profile leaders have quit Congress. The exit of veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad from the Congress, months before the upcoming Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, as well as the general elections in two years’ time, dealt a huge blow to party.

Jaiveer Shergill, who is a lawyer by profession and was one of the prominent ones among young Congress leaders, on August 24, tendered his resignation claiming that the vision of the decision-makers no longer was in sync with the aspirations of the youth.

Earlier this year in May, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, a prominent face of the G-23 group of dissenting leaders, resigned from the party and filed nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections as an independent candidate backed by the Samajwadi Party (SP).

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar too parted ways with the Congress in May this year.

Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar in February also resigned from Congress after a long association of 46 years with the party.

Back in May, Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel had quit the party after he felt that he was being “ignored”. (ANI)

Arvind Kejriwal RSS

BJP Trying To Make Sonia PM Through Backdoor: Kejriwal

By LokMarg

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday attacked BJP in poll-bound Gujarat and alleged that the party is trying to make Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi as the “Prime Minister through the backdoor” and “successor” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kejriwal was responding to a question about BJP leaders stating that social activist Medha Patkar would be AAP’s chief ministerial candidate in the Gujarat assembly polls.
“I have heard that BJP will make Sonia Gandhi as the PM candidate after PM Modi. Ask them what they have to say on this. Ask them that Kejriwal has alleged that you are going to make Sonia Gandhi PM candidate and the successor to PM Modi at the national level. What do they have to say on this? The BJP is trying to make Sonia Gandhi the PM of the country through the backdoor. Ask them this question,” Kejriwal said.

The BJP has sought to make Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) founder Medha Patkar’s past ties with AAP a poll issue in Gujarat. Party leaders have said that Patkar opposed Narmada project and have talked of “renewed ties” between her and AAP.

Kejriwal alleged that the BJP “has not done anything” for the development of Gujarat and claimed it has “no programme for the next five years”.

Kejriwal also claimed that the Congress party is “finished” in Gujarat. “Congress is finished. You should stop taking their questions. People no more care about their questions,” Kejriwal said in response to a query.

The AAP leader has earlier urged the people not to “waste their votes” on Congress. After its victory in the held Punjab Assembly elections earlier this year, AAP is seeking to expand its footprint in other states.

Gujarat will face assembly polls later this year. (ANI)

Kejriwal's Bail

Congress Is Finished In Gujarat: Kejriwal

By LokMarg

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday claimed that the Congress party is “finished” in Gujarat, where assembly polls will be held later this year.

Kejriwal’s claim came in response to a reporter’s question regarding a Congress leader’s allegation during his visit to the poll-bound state, where AAP is presenting itself as a strong contender and alternative to the ruling BJP.
Congress had alleged that the AAP government in Punjab is spending crores on ads for the Gujarat polls whereas Punjab is “on the brink of bankruptcy”.

Responding to the allegation, Kejriwal said, “Congress is finished. You should stop taking their questions. People no more care about their questions.”

Notably, the AAP supremo has urged the people on multiple occasions not to “waste their votes” on Congress.

Kejriwal has pitched AAP as the “only alternative” to the BJP in the state.

After its landslide victory in the recently held Punjab Assembly elections, AAP is seeking to expand its footprints in other states.

AAP had made its debut in Gujarat in the 2017 Assembly polls, but could not open its account.

AAP’s hopes in Gujarat have been fuelled by its performance in the February 2021 Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) polls in which BJP won 93 seats, while Aam Aadmi Party bagged 27 seats and the Congress drew a blank.

Meanwhile, in the 2017 Assembly elections, Congress had given a scare to the ruling BJP by restricting its MLAs to 99 and winning 77 seats on its own. There are 182 assembly seats in Gujarat. (ANI)

Delhi L-G Receives Complaint Against Kejriwal Seeking Probe Into Alledged Duped Exchequer

By LokMarg

Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has received a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stating that he “grossly undervalued” and sold three urban commercial plots in Haryana’s Bhiwani district in 2021 and “evaded stamp duty and capital gains tax,” LG House officials said.

They said according to the complaint, Kejriwal sold three plots for Rs 4.54 crore and showed on papers “a grossly undervalued price of Rs 72.72 lakh”.
The officials said according to the complaint, Kejriwal sold the plots through his wife Sunita Kejriwal at the market rate of Rs 45,000 per sq yard “but showed the transaction at the rate of a meagre Rs 8300 per sq yard on papers”.

The complaint alleged Kejriwal “duped the exchequer of Rs 25.93 lakh in stamp duty and Rs 76.4 lakh as capital gains tax”.

The officials said LG received a copy of the complaint dated August 28, 2022, addressed to Delhi Lokayukta against the Chief Minister, demanding an inquiry.

They said LG has marked the complaint to Delhi Chief Secretary for further necessary action.

The complaint said that two of these properties were in the name of Arvind Kejriwal and the third property was in his father’s name.

It alleged that Kejriwal “grossly undervalued and sold urban commercial plots on a 100-foot road situated in a market in Bhiwani, Haryana on February 15, 2021, at a market price of Rs 4.54 crore actually and showed it on paper at a grossly undervalued price of Rs 72.72 lakh.”

According to officials, the complaint said that Kejriwal “not only got unaccounted cash of Rs 3.8 crore but also evaded stamp duty worth Rs 25.93 lakh and capital gains tax amounting to Rs 76.4 lakh apart from obvious income tax evasion.”

The complaint said the buyers who got in touch with the complainant on condition of anonymity said that Kejriwal sold the plots at the market rate of Rs 1.53 crore, Rs 1.87 crore and Rs 1.14 crore respectively and received the amount exceeding the rate of Rs 8,300/sq. yards mentioned in the sale deed in cash.

The complainant also attached copies of three sale deeds.

The officials said that the complaint stated that Kejriwal and his wife, both former IRS officers, “conspired so blatantly to dupe their parent department and got away with it”.

The complaint alleged that it is a “clear case of evasion of stamp duty, income tax, capital gains tax and forgery by a person who is holding the high office of the Chief Minister of Delhi”. It also alleged that a person who is supposed to protect the law, “has indulged in such blatant corruption and tax evasion.”

The complaint urged the LG to get the matter inquired into with the help of competent and concerned agencies at the earliest.

It said a free and fair inquiry will ensure that “the fraud is exposed and the guilty brought to book”. (ANI)

‘If AAP Fails To Deliver, Punjabis Will Never Forgive It’

By LokMarg

Jashan Gill, a Punjab voter who defied family loyalties to pick AAP over Akali Dal and Congress, says the party stands at a juncture from where it can make or break its future

In 2014 General Election, it was for the first time that I voted for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Punjab has been enthusiastic about the party since its inception. And this was the reason, four AAP candidates were elected to the Lok Sabha on their debut contest from the state.

In the assembly election of 2017, the AAP emerged as the main opposition with 20 seats. And now, in 2022, eight years since its journey began in Punjab, the party has been able to form government in the state with a clear mandate. Punjab’s voters found them as a viable alternative to the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

This change was impending for long. Both the SAD and the Congress had been unable to fulfil the expectations of the people of Punjab. The border regions of the state have been infested with drugs menace and there is widespread belief that the SAD has a vested interest in it. During their rule, the corruption in the state also reached at its zenith.

Punjabis therefore rooted out the Badal government in 2017 in favour of the Congress. But the Congress didn’t fulfil its promises either. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh became too complacent after the win and forgot about his poll promises of development.

The situation at the party further deteriorated when inside scuffle broke out in the open, making it a laughing stock. The chaos was too much to bear. Even during election people didn’t know who would be the chief minister of the state if the Congress came to the power.

Gill (left) says Punjab has high expectations from Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal

This clearly turned people’s attention towards the AAP leadership. The party projected Bhagwant Mann as the chief ministerial candidate in the state election and the decision found favour with the voters. For, in the past eight years, since 2014 general election, Mann has done commendable work in his constituency and showed his commitment towards the people. It was no surprise that Punjab gave him a chance to work for the entire state.

ALSO READ: Punjab Will Reclaim It Glory Under AAP Leadership

We have already started witnessing the change since AAP came to power in the state. The first priority of the party, which was about stopping corruption has already been enforced. The government employees, who would brazenly ask for bribes earlier, are now scared of making such demands from people. They are afraid of stern actions now.

The conditions of hospitals and schools in the state is already showing improvement. You can visit a hospital and feel the change in the atmosphere. We believe that Mann government will also address the issue of drugs soon. Farmers too have a lot of expectations from this new government. They believe that the AAP leadership will find a solution to receding water table and provide minimum support price for all their crops.

If the party successfully fulfils its promise in the state, it will pave a path for the party to emerge as an alternative to the BJP in other states and eventually at the Centre. As an AAP supporter I hope that it emerges as a challenger in states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana where elections are likely to happen late this year.

AAP is standing at a crucial juncture in Punjab from where it can write its own future. Punjabis have put their faith in AAP and if they fail to keep their promises, the people will never forgive them. It will be uprooted from the state once and for all. The people of Punjab have voted for development and they will not settle for anything except development.

As told to Md Tausif Alam