Delhi Govt vs Centre: SC’s Constitution bench to hear plea relating to split verdict on control of services

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August 22, 2022

The five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice DY Chandrachud, will hear the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s plea on the contentious issue of who should control administrative services in Delhi over the transfers and postings of officers in the national capital.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Monday said that the issue will be heard by a bench headed by Justice Chandrachud after the matter was mentioned before it for early hearing.

The case was slated to be heard by a Constitution bench after a three-judge bench had in May this year decided to send it to a larger bench on a request by the Central government.

On February 14, 2019, a two-judge Bench of the top court delivered a split verdict on the question of powers of the GNCTD and Union government over services and referred the matter to a three-judge Bench.

While Justice Ashok Bhushan had ruled the Delhi government has no power at all over administrative services.

Justice AK Sikri, however, had said the transfer or posting of officers in top echelons of the bureaucracy (joint director and above) can only be done by the Central government and the view of the lieutenant governor would prevail in case of a difference of opinion for matters relating to other bureaucrats.

The two-judge bench, which was hearing pleas on six matters pertaining to a long-running conflict between the Centre and the Delhi government, had given a unanimous order on the remaining five issues except for the control over services.

Governance of the national capital has witnessed a power struggle between the Centre and the Delhi government since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in 2014.

Prior to February 2019 judgement, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court had on July 4, 2018, laid down the broad parameters for governance of the national capital.

In the landmark verdict, it had unanimously held that Delhi cannot be accorded the status of a state but clipped the powers of the LG saying he has no “independent decision-making power” and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.

It had restricted the jurisdiction of the LG to matters pertaining to land, police and public order and on all other matters, it held that the LG would have to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

Arvind Kejriwal defending Manish Sisodia states “Such a person should get Bharat Ratna”

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

Arvind Kejriwal,Manish Sisodia — Image: Agencies

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday took on the BJP-led Centre claiming that a person like Manish Sisodia, who deserves a Bharat Ratna for his contribution to the education sector, was being hounded by investigative agencies.

During his Gujarat visit, Kejriwal sought to put a strong defence for his deputy in the Delhi government and said Sisodia had done what others could not achieve in seven decades. “He (Manish Sisodia) reformed govt schools which other parties could not do in 70 years.

Such a person should get Bharat Ratna.

The entire country’s education system should be handed over to him, but instead, they conducted CBI raids on him,” Kejriwal said at a press conference which he addressed along with Sisodia. The AAP chief made several promises to the people of Gujarat, where Assembly elections are due later this year.

“We’re guaranteeing that we’ll provide free and best health treatment to all Gujaratis. Like Mohalla clinics, health clinics will be opened in cities and villages. We’ll improve govt hospitals and new government hospitals will be opened if needed,” Kejriwal said.

The Delhi CM further demanded that the Gujarat government also provide an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to police personnel who lay down their lives in the line of duty as is done for army personnel.

“I demand the inclusion of the police personnel in the scheme to give Rs 1 crore as an ex-gratia for those personnel who die in the line of duty. The people of Gujarat are saying that the announcement to give Rs 1 crore to the army personnel who die during duty is not intentional, but rather due to the elections. The BJP has not implemented it anywhere else in the country, they did it here because there are elections here,” he said.

Kejriwal is on a two-day visit to Gujarat from Monday.

Kejriwal is accompanied by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia, who is facing a CBI probe in connection with the AAP government’s previous excise policy.

They will attend a town hall meeting in Bhavnagar on Tuesday. “On Monday, Manish ji and I will go to Gujarat for two days to guarantee education and health. Like Delhi, Gujarat will also have good schools, good hospitals and Mohalla clinics. Everyone will get a free good education and good treatment. People will be relieved, we will also interact with youth,” Kejriwal had said in a tweet.

The statement from Kejriwal came a day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) searched Sisodia’s home and carried out raids at several places in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy.

During an earlier visit to north Gujarat, Kejriwal made a bunch of promises to the people of Gujarat ranging from providing free electricity supply to improving the healthcare services in the state.

AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj slammed BJP over corruption allegations against Delhi Dy CM Sisodia

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the ongoing liquor scam case against Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and said that the “BJP is misusing its powers against the Opposition to suppress its voice.

” While addressing a press conference, Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “Why is BJP targetting Manish Sisodia, who is an ideal for the whole country,” asked Bhardwaj while attacking BJP.

According to him, BJP is misusing its powers against the Opposition to suppress its voice. “BJP wants that no Opposition raises voice even if there is a rise in inflation and unemployment in the country,” he said.

While giving a reference to many BJP names, the AAP spokesperson alleged that as soon as a corrupt leader joins BJP, all corruption cases are closed against him.

“Suvendu Adhikari was completely indulged into corruption, till he was in TMC, but as soon he came to the BJP, all cases against him were closed and he is now the Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly. Besides him, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mukul Roy, Narayan Rane are also some other names who were deep into corruption, but they all became honest as soon as they joined BJP,” said Saurabh Bhardwaj.

Speaking about the allegation that the Sisodia has levelled against BJP through a tweet today, he said, “BJP offered Manish Sisodia to join BJP and said that all cases will be closed against him. He was even given the offer of being the chief minister, but Sisodia completely rejected the offer. He is a Rajput, he will get beheaded but will never bow down”.

The AAP leader also asked for investigating ex-Delhi Governor Anil Baijal’s decision. “If CBI wants to investigate the liquor policy, it should also investigate the decision of ex-Delhi Governor Anil Baijal, as it was passed during his tenure only”, he said.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the residence of Manish Sisodia on Friday, in connection with an alleged scam in the implementation of the Delhi government’s liquor policy, which now stands withdrawn.

Sisodia was among 15 others who were booked in an FIR filed by the CBI. Excise officials, liquor company executives, dealers, some unknown public servants and private persons have been booked in the case.

Sisodia and the AAP have claimed innocence. They have claimed that Sisodia was targeted because he is a minister in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.

BJP wanted to make Sisodia its chief ministerial candidate, alleges AAP

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday alleged that Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had received offers from a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to work against the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit to escape CBI action.

Senior party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that Sisodia, who is facing CBI action in Delhi liquor policy case, was approached by BJP with an offer to become the party’s chief ministerial face in Delhi.

Addressing the media, Bharadwaj claimed that BJP was asking Sisodia to join it along with other legislators. However, the Aam Aadmi Party leader did not name any BJP leader.

Bhardwaj said there were several opposition leaders who faced corruption charges but soon after they joined the BJP, investigations against them were stopped.

“Leaders like Suvendu Adhikari, Himanta Bishwa Sharma, Mukul Roy, Narayan Rane, Baijayant Panda, Reddy Brothers were earlier facing allegations of corruption. But after joining BJP, now these leaders are not being investigated,” he added.

AAP leader Atishi Marlena alleged that the “same BJP leader” who had contacted Himanta Biswa Sarma, Suvendu Adhikari, Baijayant Panda and Mukul Rai had approached Sisodia a few days ago with an offer to join the BJP.

Earlier on Monday, Sisodia in a tweet said he had received an offer from the BJP to join them by splitting the AAP in lieu of getting the CBI against him closed.

“My reply to the BJP is – I am a descendant of Maharana Pratap, a Rajput. I will cut off my head but will not bow down to the corrupt and those who conspire. All the cases against me are false. Do what you want to do,” Sisodia tweeted.

Last week, CBI conducted searches on Sisodia’s official residence and carried out raids at several places in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy.

The AAP has maintained the allegations of corruption are politically motivated. The BJP, on the other hand, has attacked claiming that its model of governance was getting exposed.

K Kavitha to file defamation case after BJP calls her AAP for Liquor mafia comment “middleman”

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter and MLC, K Kavitha on Monday said that she will file a defamation case against Delhi BJP leaders – MP Parvesh Varma and former MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa for their allegations that she acted as a “middleman” between the liquor mafia and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Kavitha said she will also move court seeking an injunction order against those making the allegations.

“The allegations made on me are completely baseless…I don’t have any link with what was said in the Delhi Excise scam. They have all the agencies in their hands, they can do whatever investigation that is required.

We will completely cooperate,” K Kavitha said. She further said that BJP is doing this because our chief minister KCR has been vocal in criticising the policies of the union government, and thus it is trying to malign the reputation of her family.

“We don’t get panicky on these kinds of allegations….We are going to fight and we are family from fighters,” she said.

The BJP on Sunday had alleged that a bribe of crores of rupees was given to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to increase the commission from 2.5 per cent to 12 per cent under the Delhi government’s revamped liquor policy and the first instalment of the same was given to him.

BJP further alleged Rs 150 crore was given to Sisodia. Accusing Sisodia of holding meetings with the Telangana leader, the BJP sought an answer from him on the same.

BJP leader Parvesh Verma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa held a press conference yesterday and alleged that KCR’s daughter K Kavitha acted as a “middleman” between the liquor mafia and the AAP government.

The BJP leaders said that several meetings were held between the liquor mafia, ministers and officers to make the excise policy in line with them.

“The meeting was done in Oberoi Hotel in Delhi. The Delhi Excise officer, commissioner, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, some liquor mafia and some political persons were the attendants of the meeting. KCR’s family members were present in the meeting. She had brought many members of the liquor mafia to meet Manish Sisodia. They came on a private plane. They had implemented the policy in Punjab. They had planned everything along with Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia,” said Verma.

“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Excise Minister Manish Sisodia should explain why the commission of liquor sellers was increased by 10 per cent. He should also explain the relationship between him, K Kavitha and the members of the liquor mafia – Dinesh Arora, Vijay Nayar and Vijay Arora. And by collecting money from all this, Aman Dhal used to do the work of giving it to the Aam Aadmi Party. Which has liquor contracts in Delhi as well as in Punjab,” he alleged.

Manjinder Sirsa said that he will soon reveal the evidence of the politicians’ involvement in the case.

“Along with the meetings at the Oberoi Hotel in Delhi, meetings of these liquor mafia were also held at the Hyatt Hotel in Chandigarh. After these meetings, AAP leaders implemented the same liquor policy in Delhi and Punjab which is already being followed in Telangana and West Bengal,” he alleged.

K Kavitha files defamation case against BJP leaders after calling her Middleman of AAP liquor mafia

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter and MLC, K Kavitha on Monday said that she will file a defamation case against Delhi BJP leaders – MP Parvesh Varma and former MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa for their allegations that she acted as a “middleman” between the liquor mafia and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Kavitha said she will also move court seeking an injunction order against those making the allegations. “The allegations made on me are completely baseless…I don’t have any link with what was said in the Delhi Excise scam. They have all the agencies in their hands, they can do whatever investigation that is required. We will completely cooperate,” K Kavitha said.

She further said that BJP is doing this because our chief minister KCR has been vocal in criticizing the policies of the union government, and thus it is trying to malign the reputation of her family.

“We don’t get panicky on these kinds of allegations…We are going to fight and we are family from fighters,” she said.

The BJP on Sunday had alleged that a bribe of crores of rupees was given to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to increase the commission from 2.5 percent to 12 percent under the Delhi government’s revamped liquor policy and the first installment of the same was given to him.

BJP further alleged Rs 150 crore was given to Sisodia. Accusing Sisodia of holding meetings with the Telangana leader, the BJP sought an answer from him on the same. BJP leader Parvesh Verma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa held a press conference yesterday and alleged that KCR’s daughter K Kavitha acted as a “middleman” between the liquor mafia and the AAP government.

The BJP leaders said that several meetings were held between the liquor mafia, ministers, and officers to make the excise policy in line with them.

“The meeting was done in Oberoi Hotel in Delhi. The Delhi Excise officer, commissioner, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, some liquor mafia, and some political persons were the attendants of the meeting. KCR’s family members were present in the meeting. She had brought many members of the liquor mafia to meet Manish Sisodia. They came on a private plane. They had implemented the policy in Punjab. They had planned everything along with Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia,” said Verma.

“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Excise Minister Manish Sisodia should explain why the commission of liquor sellers was increased by 10 percent. He should also explain the relationship between him, K Kavitha, and the members of the liquor mafia – Dinesh Arora, Vijay Nayar, and Vijay Arora. And by collecting money from all this, Aman Dhal used to do the work of giving it to the Aam Aadmi Party. Which has liquor contracts in Delhi as well as in Punjab,” he alleged.

Manjinder Sirsa said that he will soon reveal the evidence of the politicians’ involvement in the case. “Along with the meetings at the Oberoi Hotel in Delhi, meetings of these liquor mafia were also held at the Hyatt Hotel in Chandigarh. After these meetings, AAP leaders implemented the same liquor policy in Delhi and Punjab which is already being followed in Telangana and West Bengal,” he alleged.

Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy meets PM Modi in Delhi

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence here on Monday. This is CM Reddy’s second meeting with the prime minister in three months.

It is believed that issues related to the development of the state including funding, Polavaram Dam and sanction for new medical colleges etc may have come up.

Reddy, who is on a visit to the national capital, is also expected to meet some of the senior central ministers as well. Raddy has met Modi earlier this year as well.

In a meeting in April, Reddy had briefed PM Modi about many projects and issues including the Polavaram project, Kadapa steel plant, rationality in the selection of eligible persons under the National Food Security Act, and arrears to the state from Telangana, etc.

According to an official statement released at that time, among the development works discussed, the Polavaram project took the spotlight.

Reddy placed before the PM the revised estimates for the Polavaram project.

He stated that the Technical Advisory Committee held on February 11, 2019, revised the estimates of the Polavaram project to Rs. 55, 548.87 crores.

“The state would require another Rs.31,118 crore to complete the project. Rs 8,590 crore would be spent on construction and Rs 22,598 crore for land acquisition and rehabilitation,” CM Reddy had said. In the earlier meeting, the CM also discussed the process of payment for the rehabilitation of families who will be displaced due to the Polavaram project.

CM has requested the payment of the R&R package directly into their bank accounts.

Election for the post of President is challenging for Congress

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

The election for the post of president has now become a challenge for Congress with the reluctance of party leader Rahul Gandhi to contest the polls.

The Congress party has completed the internal election process till August 20. The party had announced that the election for the post of president will be held between August 21 and September 20 but despite several attempts, Rahul Gandhi has not cleared the stance till now.

According to sources, the Central Election Authority has fully prepared to complete the election process on time.

The chairman of the authority is waiting for a meeting of the Congress Working Committee which will announce the election dates for the post of chairman and then the authority will notify the same.

Sources said the process seems to remain stuck since Rahul is not willing to contest the election for the post of Congress president, although all the efforts to convince him are still going on.

In fact, Rahul is adamant about giving the post of president to a non-Gandhi and that is why he is preventing sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from filing a nomination, sources claimed.

At the same time, Sonia Gandhi does not want to hold the post due to health reasons and Rahul wants a non-Gandhi should hold the post in place of Sonia.

Congress tried to persuade Rahul and considered Priyanka as the second option. If not, Sonia Gandhi will be asked to stay till 2024 for the sake of party unity, said sources.

If the logjam continues, there may be an attempt to agree on one of the names of the leaders like Ashok Gehlot, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, Kumari Shailaja, and Mukul Wasnik.

The next few days are going to be very important for the Gandhi family keeping the time frame for Congress presidential election in mind which has technically started on Sunday itself.

Meanwhile, Congress plans to embark on ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Kanyakumari on September 7 under the leadership of party leader Rahul Gandhi and the 148-day march will culminate in Kashmir.

The five-month yatra is scheduled to cover a distance of 3,500 kilometers and more than 12 states. The padayatra (march) will cover a distance of 25 km every day.

The Yatra will include padayatras, rallies, and public meetings which will be attended by the senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the yatra is seen as an attempt to rally the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles.

Meanwhile, sources said Rahul Gandhi will meet civil society people and organizations in Delhi on August 22 to listen to their issues and share their thoughts. Gandhi will also discuss his Bharat Jodo Yatra and its purpose with people from civil society.

Ahead of his Bharat Jodo Yatra starting from Kanyakumari on September 7, Rahul Gandhi will work with civil society to chalk out a strategy for the 2024 general elections.

Gandhi is going to meet organizations and individuals working for different sections of society before his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Russia detains IS suicide bomber plotting terrorist attack in India

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

IED — Russia detains IS suicide bomber plotting terrorist attack in India 10

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Monday said that its officers had detained a suicide bomber, a member of the Islamic State terrorist group, who was plotting a terrorist attack against one of India’s leadership elite, Russia news agency Sputnik reported.

“Russia’s FSB identified and detained a member of the Islamic State international terrorist organization banned in Russia, a native of a country in the Central Asian region, who planned to commit a terrorist act by blowing himself up against one of the representatives of the ruling circles of India,” the authority said in a statement.

The detained was recruited by one of the IS leaders as a suicide bomber in Turkey, the statement added.

This story is still developing and more information is awaited in this regard.

Islamic State and all its manifestations have been notified as Terrorist Organization and included in the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by the Central Government.

According to Home Ministry, IS is using various internet-based social media platforms to propagate its ideology. Cyberspace is being closely watched in this regard by the agencies concerned and action is taken as per law.

Farmers arrived at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protesting over unemployment

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ANI

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August 22, 2022

Farmers from across the states arrived at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday early morning protesting over unemployment.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police also detained some farmers and have increased the security on all the borders amid the protests.

As per the information, Delhi Police has detained some farmers protesting at Ghazipur on the Delhi-UP border.

Meanwhile, the traffic situation in the city witnessed disruption as police put up checkpoints at the borders resulting in a traffic pile-up.

Traffic movement slowed down at the Noida-Delhi Chilla border as security is heightened at the border entry points.

Delhi Police has increased the security forces and barricaded the Singhu border which is located in North-West Delhi and Ghazipur border which is located on the Delhi-Meerut expressway.

Earlier, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – an umbrella body of farmers – had announced the beginning of its 75-hour sit-in in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh from Thursday (August 18) to press for their pending demands.

SKM is an umbrella group comprising around 40 farm organisations, primarily demanding the proper implementation of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

In April, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait joined the protest held by the Telangana leaders in New Delhi against the Centre’s paddy procurement policy and said that there is a need for another protest in the country.

Tikait also added that the farmer umbrella body Samyukt Kisan Morcha will back every Chief Minister who fights for the farmers’ issues.