PM should resign if he cannot protect Delhi CM: Kejriwal
New Delhi : Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign if he cannot ensure the chief minister's security, days after a man flung chilli powder at the Aam Aadmi Party chief inside the Delhi secretariat.
Speaking at the party headquarters, Kejriwal claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi did much more during its three-year rule than what Modi did in 12 years as Gujarat chief minister.
"The people of Delhi are proud of their honest chief minister. I want to ask the people of the country if they feel the same about their prime minister," Kejriwal said.
He hit out the BJP-led NDA government over the alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter-jet deal, and Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi fleeing the country.
Targeting the "Gujarat model" of development, the chief minister said, "I challenge... the AAP government in Delhi did much more than he (Narendra Modi) did in Gujarat in 12 years."
Later in the Assembly, Kejriwal asked the prime minister to step down if he cannot ensure the Delhi chief minister's security.
Speaking at the one-day special session of the Assembly, which was extended by a day till Tuesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind the November 20 attack on him as it was "baffled" by the "good work" done by his government.
"Narendra Modi should resign if he cannot protect Delhi's chief minister," Kejriwal said in the House, which had met to discuss the attack on him and the alleged deletion of names from the voters' list.
Referring to a phone call from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after the incident, Kejriwal claimed, "I said either you are worthless or colluding."
Speaking on a government resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of the Delhi government, Kejriwal said 95 per cent policemen were good but "they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP".
"If Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people," he asserted.
The resolution, moved by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and later adopted by the Assembly with voice votes, also stated that in view of pending such amendments, necessary steps should be initiated by the Centre to devolve certain powers to the elected government so that it is in a position to have control over the Delhi Police.
Referring to the recent attack on him, Kejriwal said, "In the last three years, four attacks were made on me. These attacks could not happen if I was not the chief minister of Delhi.
"These attacks are not on me, but on the people of Delhi instead... Modi ji is taking revenge from Delhiites for voting the AAP to power in the city," the chief minister said.
Kejriwal also hit out at Lt Governor Anil Baijal for "creating hurdles" in the functioning of the AAP dispensation.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police said the number of heinous crimes in the national capital had declined this year from last year and it was incorrect to call the city the "crime capital".
The reaction came hours after the Delhi Assembly adopted a government resolution claiming that the city has become the "national crime capital".
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Nearly 700 km of Karnataka rivers polluted; cities, towns depend on contaminated water
Shivamogga: A total of 693.75 of river stretches across Karnataka are polluted, and water from several of these rivers is being supplied to towns and cities, the State government informed the Legislative Assembly.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Monday, replying to an unstarred question by Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra during the winter session in Belagavi, Forest, Environment and Biodiversity Minister Eshwar Khandre said rivers are classified into five categories, P1 to P5, based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, with P1 being the most polluted.
He reportedly said untreated domestic wastewater from urban and rural areas is the main reason for river pollution. Arkavati, Lakshana Teertha, Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Tunga, Cauvery, Kabini, Kagina, Krishna, Shimsha, Bheema and Netravati are the polluted rivers and so far, 112 polluted drainages along these rivers have been identified.
Khandre explained that rivers are classified into five pollution categories P1 to P5. The Arkavati River has been placed in the P1 category, while no rivers fall under P2 and P3. Tungabhadra, Bhadra and Shimsha are categorised under P4, and eight other rivers fall under P5.
Khandre allegedly said domestic wastewater from municipalities, towns and villages along riverbeds is being discharged into at least 17 rivers, identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is the primary cause of river pollution.
According to the report, the minister said drinking water is being supplied from polluted rivers in districts such as Mandya, Ramanagara, Vijayapura and Shivamogga. In parts of Uttara Kannada, Ballari, Vijayanagara and Bagalkot, local bodies are also drawing water from polluted river sources.
In 2022-23, CPCB identified South Pinakini, Aghanashini, Sharavathi and Gangavali rivers too as polluted. But wrote to CPCB, stating that these rivers are not polluted and sought their removal from the list. An action plan is being prepared for the South Pinakini River, he said.
On remedial measures, Khandre reportedly said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is setting up sewage treatment plants as per the directions of National Green Tribunal.
As per the report, under 12 river rejuvenation plans, the state generates 817.31 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. While 41 STPs with a capacity of 614.1 MLD are operational, 203.21 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
Work is underway to establish 19 STPs with a capacity of 248.91 MLD, while 39 more STPs with a combined capacity of 357.92 MLD are in the planning stage. Progress is being monitored and reported regularly to the NGT and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The minister reportedly said the state government gave its approval for underground drainage works worth Rs 535.56 crore in 2021 for 24 cities/towns besides Rs 523.80 crore for nine UGD projects.
