'Artificial rain' fraud, BJP govt wants to steal Lord Indra's credit: Saurabh Bharadwaj
New Delhi (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party termed the Delhi BJP government's cloud seeding experiment on Tuesday a "big fraud" and said it might attempt to steal the credit of (Hindu rain god) Lord Indra if actual rain happens.
There was no immediate reaction from the BJP.
After 53 years, Delhi conducted cloud seeding trials to induce artificial rain as pollution levels surged and the weather department ruled out any trace of rain in the horizon.
The trials were conducted in parts of the city, including Burari, north Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar and Badli, with more such exercises planned over the next few days, according to Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that her government is trying out cloud seeding to see if it could solve Delhi's pollution problem.
In a statement, AAP's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said the BJP government has "committed fraud even in the name of rain".
Citing data from India Meteorological Department that confirmed no rainfall anywhere in Delhi on Tuesday, Bharadwaj said, "The BJP government is claiming to have carried out artificial rainfall, but not a single drop fell anywhere in the city."
Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha also confirmed that there was no rain in their constituencies.
"It seems even Lord Indra is upset with the BJP," Bharadwaj remarked, pointing out that there was no trace of rain in Central Delhi either.
He said there were news reports that said rain is forecast for the city on Tuesday.
Taking a dig at the ruling dispensation, he said that if Lord Indra indeed makes it rain, the BJP ministers will hold a press conference and claim that it was their doing.
"Lord Indra won't come down to clarify who caused the rain, so the BJP will take full advantage of it. This government can even claim credit for Lord Indra's work because after all they have to pay the contractor for the trial," he said.
Later in the day, Bharadwaj visited Central Delhi to inspect if there was rain. "Not a single drop has fallen here," he said.
"The BJP will wait for an actual shower. And the moment Lord Indra brings rain, they will steal even his credit and say 'we made it rain'. Lord Indra will bring the rain while the BJP government will foot the bill," he added.
While the AAP was in power, it had also considered holding cloud seeding trials as a measure to tackle pollution but failed to secure permissions.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "Historical data shows that rain happens at 50 per cent humidity. If the IIT Kanpur experiment is successful, it will be historic, as rainfall would have occurred with 10-15 per cent humidity. If the (cloud seeding chemical) mixture induces rainfall, it will be the biggest solution," Sirsa added.
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
