Day wise Report
Select Day
Month wise Report
Select Month
Day 332
January 13 : Delhi Transport minister Gopal Rai said that the second phase of the odd-even scheme would be decided in a review meeting, which will be chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, 18 January. Moreover, a thanksgiving event has been planned by the government for residents of the city who have made the scheme a success.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met the families of the security personnel and a taxi driver who were gunned downed by terrorists in Pathankot. On Wednesday, 13 January, he visited the families and announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh for each family. He also held a meeting with the families of Havildar Kulwant Singh, Honorary Capt Fateh Singh and Ikagar Singh.
January 12 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadda would file a written reply to the defamation case filed by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. According to AAP, the party's written reply runs for around 2000 pages.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will be on a 2-day visit to Punjab starting Wednesday, 13 January. It is seen as his first call for the AAP's 2017 assembly poll campaign in the state. Kejriwal is slated to address his first public rally in Punjab on the occasion of Maghi Mela on 14 January.
Day 330
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's key IAS official, Chetan Sanghi, who probed irregularities at the DDCA, wrote to the Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi some two weeks ago revealing "pressure from various stakeholders" during the probe. Sanghi had sent the letter seeking a central deputation. His letter also claimed that there was emphasis on naming who were at fault.
Day 329
January : 10 The Kejriwal government claimed that there has been a 50 per cent decline in air pollution caused by vehicular traffic. According to the ambient air data collected by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee at 18 locations, over 50 per cent drop in air pollution has been recorded.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the decision to scrap management quota for nursery admissions in private schools has given common man the access to 50 per cent extra seats. Kejriwal also hinted that the Delhi government will consider providing online admissions on 75 per cent seats in 2017.
Day 328
January 9: Delhi cricket body, DDCA, filed defamation cases against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and BJP MP Kirti Azad on Saturday for making defamatory remarks against its functioning. DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda informed the media that the cricket body has also sought Rs. 2.5 crore as damages from each of them for their defamatory remarks.
Day 327
January 8 : In a move that can trigger a fresh war of words between the Arvind Kejriwal government and Centre, the office of Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung declared the probe panel constituted by the Kejriwal government to look into the alleged irregularities in the Delhi cricket body – DDCA – as illegal and unconstitutional. The Governor’s office issued a notification in this regard on Friday.
The Delhi government’s ad campaign on ‘odd-even’ scheme invited a lot of criticism on social media. Several spoof videos were also created ever since the ad went on air. The government’s ad shows a man who looks like CM Arvind Kejriwal with a muffler wrapped around his neck and head. The man is seen praising the efforts of traffic police and volunteers in making the odd-even scheme a success.
Day 326
January 7 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal left for Kolkata to attend the Global Business Summit organised by the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. Earlier, Banerjee had invited Kejriwal to the Summit beginning on 8 January.
The Delhi government scrapped the management quota and other management quota in nursery admissions 62 other ‘arbitrary criteria’ set by private schools for nursery admissions. The only reservation in schools will be for poor students. The chief minister also warned that the Delhi government may consider taking over institutions that fail to fall in line.
Day 321 - 325
January 6: The Chief Justice of India T S Thakur pulled up Arvind Kejriwal government for not providing adequate public transport to the citizens of Delhi while the odd-even vehicle rule remains in effect. The Supreme Court bench asked the Delhi government and DMRC to explain why necessary steps were not taken to ensure relaxed traveling for the daily commuters.
January 5: The Delhi High Court sought response from the Kejriwal government on the rationale behind implementing the odd-even formula for 15 days. The Delhi government was asked to respond on 8 January as to why one week was not enough to verify the impact of the scheme on pollution.
January 1: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal clarified that the odd-even scheme can't be implemented on a permanent basis. Calling it as a temporary call to curb dangerous levels of pollution, Kejriwal said that the scheme would be in practice till 15 January.
December 31: After AAP suspended two officers for allegedly refusing to sign off on decisions taken by the government, around 200 officials went on mass leave today to protest against the suspension. Terming the suspension as 'illegal', the senior officers of the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) went on mass leave in a show of solidarity.
The Delhi High Court asked Kejriwal government about its decision to exempt women and 55-lakh two-wheelers from the odd-even scheme to curb pollution. The Court sought to know the logic behind such exemptions and asked the government to submit a report on pollution levels during the odd-even experiment from 1 -15 January.
December 28: BJP workers protested outside Kejriwal’s residence and demand his resignation over the alleged auto-rickshaw permit scam. The BJP held Kejriwal and Transport Minister Gopal Rai accountable for allegedly giving permits to the auto mafia. On 26 December, the Delhi government scrapped more than 900 autorickshaw permits.
Day 301 - 315
December 27: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced his decision to kick-start his Punjab campaign in January. The state will go to polls in 2017. Kejriwal will start the campaign by addressing a mega rally in Muktsar next month. The Delhi Chief Minister will reportedly spend more time in Punjab from next year, AAP sources said.
December 22: A criminal complaint has been filed against Arvind Kejriwal for using "defamatory" words against PM Narendra Modi after the CBI raid at the office of his Principal Secretary. An advocate has sought Kejriwal's prosecution under sections 124A (sedition) and 500 (defamation) of the IPC.
December 17: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's resignation for "very serious allegations" have been levelled against him in the DDCA corruption case. Earlier, AAP had levelled corruption allegations against him.
December 16: Arvind Kejriwal accused the CBI of seizing documents "unrelated" to the probe against Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar during the day-long raid. Kejriwal also claimed that a file related to DDCA was also scrutinised.
The Kejriwal government finalised its slum rehabilitation policy. The proposed ‘Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015’, which was approved in a meeting chaired by Arvind Kejriwal, stated that no new slums will be allowed to come up in the capital.
December 14: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to discuss the demolition drive in West Delhi that has allegedly caused death of a six-month-old infant. Prabhu and Kejriwal discussed how homeless people could be rehabilitated. After the meeting, Kejriwal announced that there will be no further slum demolition "without rehabilitation”.
Day 201 - 300
December 9: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured full support to Delhi government on implementing its odd-even scheme for plying of private vehicles in the city from 1 January. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that his meeting with the Home Minister was very positive and he has got assurance of full support of Delhi Police as well.December 5: Describing the odd-even scheme as a drastic step that had to be taken to address the panic over pollution, Kejriwal said that it will be tried out for limited period of time and it will be stopped problems surface. He further said that Delhi’s roads will be vacuum-cleaned starting 1 April 2016.
December 2: Delhi CM offered “fullest support” to people in Chennai after an unprecedented downpour created a flood-like situation. Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa offering all resources at the disposal of the Delhi government to the flood-affected state.
December 1: The AAP government passed a bunch of bills to bring major reforms in education system of Delhi. The Delhi School Education ( Amendment) Bill 2015 and The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Delhi Amendment) Bill are among the ones passed.
November 28: The AAP government approved the proposal for a hike in salary and allowances of MLAs at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In October, an independent panel appointed by the Delhi government had recommended over 400% increase in their basic salary.
November 23: The BJP government at the Centre allotted Rs. 3,250 crore for decongesting and developing the national capital. After allotting an additional Rs. 96.7 crore for making Delhi cleaner, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu praised Arvind Kejriwal for roping in three municipal bodies in Delhi for the week-long cleanliness drive.
November 23: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party is not in the race for 2019 elections. Calling the Delhi win 'miraculous', Kejriwal said that the party is not here for power politics and it will keep working hard and with honesty.
November 18: The Cabinet of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cleared the Jan Lokpal Bill that meets the long-standing demand of the chief minister coming under the purview of the ombudsman. The Bill will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly for approval.
November 13: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has launched a complaint against Delhi Police for not cooperating with the AAP government. In a letter sent to the MHA on 7 November, the Delhi government alleged that the police are “hounding” AAP MLAs by digging up old cases and slapping new ones against them.
November 7: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the result of Bihar elections was a referendum against the Narendra Modi government. The people's verdict, according to AAP Chief, “has broken the Centre's arrogance”.
November 5: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ordered a probe against Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) chief MK Meena for allegedly intimidating his juniors in office. The probe will be based on the reports of misconduct or misbehaviour against Mukesh Meena.
October 30: Arvind Kejriwal wrote an open letter in a national daily absolving his party of any responsibility for the garbage crisis in the wake of ongoing strike of municipal workers in the Delhi. The Delhi CM clarified that MCD workers are not on strike because of non-payment of dues.
October 29: Arvind Kejriwal rallied in support of Nitish Kumar as Bihar was gearing up for the third phase of Assembly polls. He appealed to the people of Bihar to vote the incumbent Chief Minister to power. Kejriwal had publicly backed Kumar’s candidature since the beginning of the elections campaign.
October 28: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the Delhi Police's "raid" at Kerala Bhavan after a complaint was lodged that its canteen was serving beef. Stating that Kerala house is a government establishment, he added that the raid was an attack on federal structure.
October 22: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led a cycle rally to mark the first ever 'Car-Free Day' in Delhi. Hundreds of people joined him in the cycle rally, which was held between Red Fort and Bhagwan Das Marg.
October 17: After the ghastly incident of three rapes within a week, Kejriwal reiterated his demand for full authority over the police department. Besides shaming the repeated rape of minors, he also criticized the Delhi Police for completely failing to provide safety.
October 15: The AAP government extended "full support" to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan after it announced its decision to launch a major drive on 21st and 22nd November to clean up Delhi of "all garbage and debris"
October 9: Delhi CM sacked environment and food minister Asim Ahmed Khan for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. 6 lakh from a builder. Emphasizing AAP's zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, Kejriwal dared the BJP to sack its leaders – Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Madhya Pradesh's Shivraj Singh Chouhan – on corruption charges.
September 30: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s efforts to bring all the CMs of the states together for a meeting to build a pressure group against PM Modi didn't yield a positive response. The CMs of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar intimated they would be unable to attend the function. Kejriwal was counting on non-BJP and non-Congress chief ministers to make the conclave a success.
September 27: Arvind Kejriwal took at dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project ‘Make in India’ by asserting that the focus should be on ‘Making India' rather than 'Make in India'. He argued that the Centre should concentrate on “providing proper infrastructure, rendering honest services and ensuring a conducive atmosphere for making India.
September 26: Although Kejriwal has been locked in a tussle with Governor Najeeb Jung over several issues since AAP government came to power, the Delhi CM rallied in his support when BJP called for his removal. Describing him as a 'good man”, he added that removing Jung will not help sand the real solution lies in PMO not interfering in Delhi's affairs.
September 23: Delhi chief minister described his former law minister Somnath Bharti as an “embarrassment” to his party, AAP. He added that Bharti should surrender in a case of domestic violence and attempt to murder filed by his wife. On the contrary, other senior AAP leaders had shown solidarity with Bharti.
Day 200
- The AAP government in Delhi will start providing education loan from 8 September onwards. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia, who also holds the Education portfolio, said that the needy students could avail loans from the date mentioned. He was attending a programme at the Talkatora Stadium when he said this. He said, “If any student has any problem pursuing education, Delhi government guarantees the solution and will pay the fees. Rs 10 lakh education loan will be provided to students from September 8”. According to the government's scheme, the needy students will be entitled to a maximum loan of Rs. 10 lakh to pursue higher studies.
- A list comprising the names of five judges was sent by the Kejriwal government to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice G Rohini, in connection with the appointment of a new Lokayukta of Delhi. The Lokayukta can only be appointed after the consultation with the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court as per the provisions of the 'Delhi Lokayukta and Uplokayukta Act 1995'. According to the government sources, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was recently asked by the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to send across proposed names for the post that has been lying vacant since November 2013.
- The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA launched an agitation against Delhi government on Tuesday. Pankaj Pushkar, AAP MLA from Timarpur, criticised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his “neglect and substandard treatment of Sangam Vihar” area. While Pushkar demanded resolution of civic issues in Sangam Vihar, the party leadership refused to engage with the MLA. Pushkar had raised the issue twice in the Assembly but he was denied an opportunity to speak the third time.
- The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal promised one lakh jobs in next one year and free Wi-Fi in colleges to the students of Delhi University that will have students union elections soon. During a star-studded event on Tuesday, Kejriwal also promised higher education loan scheme for the students.
- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that his government was planning to set up a special unit to address the issues faced by the students of northeastern states and ensure 'better resolution'. The proposed body will be called 'North East India Support Cell and Monitoring Committee'. He said this after meeting a delegation of the members of the northeastern states. Kejriwal said, “We will set up the cell immediately to have a better coordination and resolution of your issues. The cell will look into all your problems and demands, we will put people who understand your problems in the cell".
- The Delhi government on Monday took back the Law Ministry from Kapil Mishra and handed its charge to the second most senior minister in the government Manish Sisodia. This is the third time in last six and a half months that the AAP government changed its Law Minister. The charge of the Ministry first given to Jitendra Singh Tomar, who was replaced by Satyendra Jain. The AAP government said that there was no major reason why this was done as Mishra was already holding the Delhi Tourism Ministry and the charge of Jal Board. According to government sources, Kapil Mishra himself wanted that someone else becomes the Law Minister.
- AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the Delhi Power tariff issue, saying that the private discoms were charging way too much for power supply to Delhi. Kejriwal asked PM Modi to allow his government to terminate all existing power pacts with power generation companies so that the allegedly high tariffs can be brought down considerably. While launching the Power Amnesty Scheme in Vinod Nagar area of East Delhi, Kejriwal said “We have come to know that many power companies are ready to supply power at Rs. 2.5 to Rs. 3 per unit. When we can get electricity at this rate, why should we buy it for Rs. 5 or Rs. 5.50 per unit?”.
- Now the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus shelters in the National Capital will carry solar power panel over them as planned by the Delhi government. The AAP government plans to do so in order to meet the city's increasing power demand. The Kejriwal government was of the view that the solar power was the only solution in sight to satisfy Delhi's electricity requirements. Delhi's Power Minister Satyendra Jain said at the launch of the power amnesty scheme, “We are planning to install solar panel on the roofs of the city's bus shelters so that more electricity could be generated. Installation of solar panel on the roofs of bus shelters will help the government generate power. Besides, we will be self-reliant in generating electricity through solar power.
- Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, was in Haridwar to celebrate the occasion of Raksha Bandhan with his sister. His sister, Dr. Ranjana Gupta, is employed with BHEL in Haridwar. She tied a Rakhi on Kejriwal's wrist who spent the whole day with her family. The Delhi CM reached the holy city by Shatabdi train on Saturday morning and returned by late evening. Kejriwal was accorded a grand welcome by AAP workers upon his arrival in Haridwar.
- Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra on Friday requested Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to pass the orders to file an FIR against former Delhi CM Sheila Dixit for her alleged involvement in Rs. 400-crore Tanker Scam. The minister and the Jal Board made the request after the 200-page report of the committees probing into Delhi water tanker scam came out. The Law minister handed over the report to Kejriwal on Friday.
- The AAP-led government in Delhi has asked the NDA government in the centre to resend Delhi's nomination for UNESCO World Heritage Cities in 2016, after the latter withdrew it for 2015. The Delhi government severely criticised the centre's move. “Delhi government had proposed ‘Delhi’s Imperial Capital Cities’ for nomination to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Cities. However, according to the UNESCO website, the Government of India withdrew the nomination just before the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in Bonn, Germany, in 2015. There was no communication to the Delhi government in this regard” KK Sharma, Delhi's Chief Secretary wrote to the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.
- A University Special (U-Special) bus, dedicated to serve the Delhi University students, was flagged off on Friday by Delhi's Transport Minister Gopal Rai. A government official said that the Transport Ministry decided to start the service when the minister met a delegation of students 10 days back. A Facebook post by Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) said, “Taking prompt cognisance on a CYSS memorandum, Transport Minister Gopal Rai inaugurated ‘DU special’ bus service for the comfortable conveyance of DU students. CYSS is committed to raise the issues of students and the Delhi government is more than eager to give preferences to the demands of students, the future of our nation.
- Delhi's Power Minister, Satyendra Jain, on Thursday, said that the AAP government was working non-stop to fulfill Delhi's power requirements and install solar power plants in order to make power generation an eco-friendly exercise. The Minister said that these projects will get around 20% boost in work efficiency. The projects will generate 1,000 MW of power in next five years and around 2,000 MW by 2025. To achieve the set targets, the Delhi government will promote solar power plants based on the model of Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO).
- Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung, was not the elected government in the National Capital, the Kejriwal government told the Delhi High Court on Thursday. The AAP government said that the L-G was only supposed to act on the assistance and advice extended to him by the elected Council of Ministers. The government made this submission in front of a bench of Justice VP Vaish hearing the government's plea that challenged the May 21 notification from the Home Ministry allowing absolute powers to appoint bureaucrats to Najeeb Jung.
- Launching a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Modi's Clean India campaign is a failure.Addressing a meeting in Patna, Kejriwal said that the NDA government is spending millions of rupees on advertisements related to the Swachh Bharat campaign but "not a single lane was clean". He also added that the youth were losing faith in the Central government.
- The Delhi BJP, on Wednesday, termed AAP government's decision of setting up a commission to probe into the CNG fitness scam as "retrogressive”. According to the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly, Vijendra Gupta, the fact that the Delhi government going ahead with the its own commission despite the objection from the Home Ministry is “against the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of India”.
- Greenpeace India, on Wednesday, urged the Delhi Government to "capitalise" on the city's rooftop solar potential. It expects the AAP government to show commitment towards harnessing 2GW of solar power by 2025. Greenpeace also requested the AAP government to start implementing the draft solar policy presented at the Delhi Solar Roundtable Conference on 25 October.
- Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and complained to him that the Delhi Police was in an unwanted tussle with his government and it was time the PM intervened. “We feel as if Delhi Police is at war with Delhi government and this is not good”, he said while in conversation with media after he met Modi. Kejriwal also raised his concerns that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung was intentionally interfering in the functioning of the AAP government in the National Capital. He stressed the need of better communication with the Union Government saying, “I told PM that we will fulfil Swachh Bharat or Digital India in Delhi, but for that better communication with Centre is needed”.
- The AAP government told the High Court on Tuesday that within next ten days it would come up with new guidelines for radio taxi companies operating in Delhi. The guidelines will focus on setting rules and regulations for these companies to follow in connection with the safety of women and other passengers. The government told the High Court bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath that it was trying to make a few changes in the existing radio taxi scheme. The GPRS system will be mandatory, there will be a panic switch, and the Delhi Police will have the driver's full database with them according to the new guidelines.
- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrwal on Monday was urged by the leader of opposition, Vijendra Gupta of BJP, to dismiss his government's order of fixing an upper age limit for enrollments into the government schools. Gupta maintained that the AAP government's decision was against the very meaning and existence of the Right to Education Act. He said that a large number of students from slums and other economically backward sections will be deprived of the basic right to be educated. Gupta said, “The worst affected are the students belonging to weaker sections of the society whose parents have no regular source of income and fixed house to stay. It causes disruption in studies of their children, therefore, they are unable to get regular education as per their age... By fixing upper limit of the age, these children are not able to get admission in government schools”.
- The AAP government on Monday increased the number of mobile vans selling onions in Delhi at cheaper price in a bid to control the steep rise in onion prices in the National Capital. The Kejriwal government met the wholesale traders of the Azadpur Sabzi Mandi on Monday and urged them to sell onions at lower rates, to which the traders have responded positively. In a meeting held at the Delhi Secretariat, the traders told Delhi's Development Minister Gopal Rai and the Food and Supplies Minister Asim Ahmed Khan that they receive onion from the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh at varying rates. The prices have just started coming down as huge amount of onion has been imported from Egypt and Afghanistan.
- The Delhi government's proposal for hiking the salaries of its mid and senior-level officers has been turned down by the NDA-led central government. An utter displeasure over the AAP government's decision has been expressed by the Union Home Ministry. The Delhi government had decided to grant time-bound pay scales to the civil servants of the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS). Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal confirmed the centre's move and said, “they will not do good work, neither will they let us”. While, maintaining that it was not consulted before issuing the orders, the MHA said, “(Home Ministery was) the competent authority to make any amendments in the DANICS Rules”.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was again at the receiving end when the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at him and blamed him for the arrest of AAP MLA Surinder Singh. Kejriwal took to twitter to express his displeasure and wrote “The Modi government gets Commando Surinder arrested. In less than 24 hours, he gets bail. What is Modiji trying to achieve?” Surinder Singh is an MLA from the Delhi Cantonment constituency, who was arrested on Friday for allegedly thrashing and beating a NDMC worker on 4 August in the Tughlaq Road area.
- The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is mulling over the possibility of showing the door to the tainted members of the assembly. Amongst those who can be ousted are Jitender Singh Tomar, Pankaj Pushkar and Manoj Kumar. It is believed that the Kejriwal government is thinking of taking this action in a bid to improve its image that has taken a hit in recent times and re-instill people's faith in the government and the party. If a resolution against the three suspects is passed unanimously in the assembly and is accepted by the speaker, they will be expelled. An AAP member said, “We are a party with a difference and have zero tolerance to any kind of corruption and wrong doings. Two of the three persons have caused a severe dent in the party’s image”.
- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday stressed the need to provide quality education for all to get the country rid of poverty. Addressing the students of the Delhi Public School, Noida, Kejriwal said that his government was committed and trying its best to improve the quality and standard of education in government schools. He said, “I have been coming to DPS for past 13 years as a parent. My daughter passed out from this school and my son Pulkit is a student of Class 9. As a proud parent I give credit to the school for grooming children into multi-faceted individuals”.
- The AAP government in Delhi on Friday decided to establish a new trauma centre and make stringent laws to punish the culprits behind the disasters and tragedies like those of Uphaar cinema and Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said this to media after holding talks with the members of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT). A day earlier, Chairperson of AVUT Neelam Krishnamurthy had urged the CM not to accept Rs. 60 crore from the Uphaar owners – Ansals – as compensation. However, a statement by the Delhi government said, “The CM is seeking a legal opinion on the matter and will take a considered decision, which will take into account sentiments of the victims’ families. The CM told the delegation that the government will appoint counsels in these cases only after consulting the families, and will do everything possible to fast-track these cases”.
- The Kejriwal government on Friday assured the people of Delhi that there was enough stock of onion with the Fair Price Shops and it will be sold at the prices as promised. The CM urged the people not to panic while the market price of onion has touched a whopping Rs. 80 per kg. The government had to face the heat at the hands of the opposition, which blamed the government for mismanagement of vegetable prices in the National Capital. The government, though, warned that the onion price might just go even higher. “Further spike in prices is expected both in wholesale and retail markets as the tight supply situation would continue in the wake of likely fall in kharif production and delay in arrival of the fresh crop”, an official said.
- A stay on the notification tripling the circle rates of the agricultural land in Delhi was refused on Thursday by the Delhi High Court. This came as a huge relief to the AAP government as the legality of the notification was challenged by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung, while Congress leader Naresh Kumar filed a PIL seeking a stay on the notification. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath shied away from passing an interim order to stay the notification and said that the Delhi government's stand will be heard before any orders are passed. The Kejriwal government has got 23 September as the last date to file a reply to the plea.
- The parents of Meenakshi, the girl who was brutally stabbed and killed last month in the Anand Parbat area of Central Delhi, were handed over cheques worth Rs. 5 lakh on Thursday. The amount of compensation was announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month when he visited the victim's house. Sandeep Kumar, Women and Child Development Minister, handed over the cheque to Meenakshi's parents.
- The Kejriwal-led government in Delhi was urged on Thursday by the kin of the victims of the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy not to accept compensation of Rs. 60 crore. Having lost her children in the tragedy, Neelam Krishnamurthy said that she did not want the government to accept this amount as it was “blood money”. She said, “This is not compensation awarded to remove our trauma but it is, in fact, blood money. I have sought a meeting with CM Arvind Kejriwal tomorrow. Our representation to him requests his government to refuse the amount”. The Chairperson of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), Krishnamurthy was of the view that money is not the solution of the problem, “Can the money ever be a substitute for losing your children? Let the Supreme Court utilise it for faster criminal justice system in the country, we would be satisfied with that. Delhi government has enough money to build a trauma centre”, she added. On 13 June 1997, a major fire broke out in the Uphaar cinema, which killed 59 people.
- Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, who earlier supported the stand and cause of the protesting FTII students, went an extra mile on Wednesday. He offered the agitating students to come to Delhi and hold their classes here. Kejriwal fired a series of tweets in which he said, “Delhi government can offer you space in Delhi to run your classes till the Centre agrees to your demand. If the Centre doesn't agree, we will create a full-fledged institute for students to continue here. An institute of international repute is being destroyed by Centre's wrong decisions”, he said in a number of tweets. The FTII students have been protesting against the appointment of actor and BJP leader Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the institute since 12 June.
- Under a plan to widen the National Highway number 24 (NH-24), the AAP government in Delhi has decided to strike down unauthorised roadside shanties in East Delhi. These slums fall in the Patparganj legislative assembly constituency from where the Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is the sitting MLA. However, the AAP had promised not to demolish any unauthorised colonies or slums when it re-assumed power in the National Capital, the locals claim. A notification regarding the demolition of these slums was issued about a month ago by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. One of the residents of the slums at Nehru Camp said, “We have been living here for the last 25-30 years but the government has suddenly asked us to vacate the land without any alternative arrangement. On the one hand, government has prohibited demolition of slums and on the other hand it is ready to bulldoze our houses. This action will leave us homeless”.
- The Delhiites may have to pay even lesser for electricity consumption if Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his government have their way. Arvind Kejriwal maintained on Tuesday that the power tariffs in the city should be further cut down as the three private discoms in Delhi have produced unduly inflated figures upto Rs. 8,000 crore as the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) suggests. The AAP government is also contemplating on seeking legal opinion before moving the court against the publication of the final report. Kejriwal said, “If whatever has come out is true, then it will be a very big thing. The scam of Rs 8,000 crore has surfaced. Delhiites will be benefited as tariff will have to be brought down. We have received a draft report and we are studying it. Let the final report come”.
- Anxious with the rapidly rising water level in the River Yamuna, the AAP-led Delhi government is trying to get its act together before its too late. Delhi Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control Gopal Rai paid a visit to the river and examined the ground situation. He also visited the Flood Control body located inside the Kashmiri Gate Bus Terminus building and issued orders to the officials to take necessary steps on time. The minister also directed the officials to keep a track of the amount of water being released from the Hathini Kund Barrage and its potential impact on Delhi. The officials were further asked to keep in touch and coordinate with the authorities in Haryana.
- Bihar Chief Minster Nitish Kumar will be the chief guest at the 'Bihar Samman Sammelan', which will be hosted by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on 19 August. This move by the Delhi government is being seen as an apparent attempt to evince support for the JD (U) leader ahead of the crucial Bihar assembly polls. According to the Delhi government officials, Nitish Kumar will be the chief guest in the programme, which will be held to honour people working for the uplifting of Bihar but living in Delhi.
- While the face-off between the AAP-led Delhi government and the Delhi Police has already become a major concern, the latest statement by the PWD, which works under the purview of the state government, may just make it worse. The PWD, in a statement on Monday, said that it would no longer be able to look after the maintenance of the Delhi Police colonies in the National Capital. Lack of funds is what has been cited as a reason behind the PWD's alleged inability to look after the maintenance of the residential colonies. “We used to maintain the buildings. But now, we are cash-strapped and need funds. Moreover, the police buildings fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which should allocate funds. It has issued new directions that only fresh constructions will be funded by the ministry and that we should forget our dues”, a PWD official said.
- The AAP government in Delhi, which had earlier given 50 per cent subsidy in electricity tariff, has decided to waive off electricity bills of defaulters with an aim at bringing relief to those who are facing disputes with the power companies (discoms). The government will launch a one-time settlement scheme. Under this scheme, the criminal and civil proceedings related to electricity disputes will be withdrawn.
- The Kejriwal government created yet another controversy after it appointed 'tainted' bureaucrat Kamal Malhotra as the Deputy Labour Commissioner. According to a news daily, the officer was twice fined by the Union Government for alleged irregularities. The decision to rope him in was criticised even by the existing staff in the department.
- The Delhi government plans to conduct the first ever tree census in the city with an aim at protecting its green cover. According to a government official, the Public Grievances Commission had recently recommended the government to carry out tree census in the city. “"However, such a massive census can not be done by the government alone and involvement of Residents' Welfare Associations and civic agencies will be crucial in this endeavour”, the official said.
- The Delhi government is planning a scheme to rehabilitate children begging at traffic signals and streets. The government is reportedly planning a committee that will conduct inspections on the streets. The members of the committee will interact with street children and persuade them to get into child care institutions.
- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attended the Independence Day celebrations on Saturday and for the first time unfurled the Indian Tricolour at the Chhatrasal Stadium in the National Capital. He was expected to announce a few plans for the city for the time to come, but he highlighted the achievements of his government during the six-month tenure in Delhi. He also attacked the previous governments over a number of issues. Kejriwal stressed the need of working closely with the Centre as well. During his Chief Ministerial speech at the function, Kejriwal hinted that the power tariffs in Delhi might be reduced further very soon. Although, in a serious tussle with the NDA led government in the Centre, Kejriwal was all praise for two of its Union Ministers. He praised the Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, who recently expressed her willingness to see him to lay down a structured plan for the rejuvenation of river Yamuna. He also lauded Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for announcing an additional five lakh rupees each as compensation for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots with the expenses being borne by the Centre.
- The AAP led Delhi government found itself in the middle of yet another controversy when CM Arvind Kejriwal's name appeared in the stands of the Chhatrasal Stadium because of the way the seating arrangements for the students were made. It was criticised alike by not only the Congress party leaders but also Kejriwal's former associates and AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushant . However, the AAP government said that nothing was wrong with it as this has been done by the previous governments and in the same manner. The BJP, the main opposition in the Delhi Assembly, pronounced the incident as the CM's self-propaganda, which demeaned the sanctity of Independence Day itself.
Last Updated on