Subsidies on power, water, bus fare to stay, says Delhi LG; AAP calls it Kejriwal's victory
New Delhi (PTI): Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday said electricity, water and bus fare subsidies will continue in Delhi as these schemes do not belong to any party and asked people not to pay attention to statements from "vested political interests" that the schemes will be stopped as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in jail.
Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that Saxena's statement was a victory for the AAP chief and stressed that till Kejriwal is the chief minister of Delhi, all public works will be carried out and the subsidy schemes will continue.
In a press statement issued by Raj Niwas here, the LG said rumours were being propagated that the central government and the lieutenant governor would stop the subsidy schemes.
"The schemes are part of the budget approved by the Government of India and Lt Governor, and these do not belong to an individual or a political party. Therefore, the question of a scheme getting affected does not arise just because an individual is in jail," the LG said.
The statement comes in the backdrop of the Aam Aadmi Party alleging that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested as part of a conspiracy to stop such schemes introduced by his government in Delhi.
Kejriwal is in judicial custody till April 15 after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to now scrapped excise policy of his government. The BJP has been demanding Kejriwal's resignation.
Referring to LG's statement, Bharadwaj said, "It is a significant victory for CM Kejriwal that even while in jail he has compelled the LG to say that work and free schemes will continue."
Saxena has taken serious note of "patently false and deliberately misleading" statements by members of a particular political party and its ministers that the schemes and subsidies related to "free" electricity, water and bus rides for women will be stopped since Chief Minister Kejriwal is in jail, the statement said.
Bharadwaj said that those who used to say that they would not allow the Kejriwal government to be run from jail have "admitted defeat" that it will run from jail and its works will continue.
"Arvind Kejriwal had promised Delhi people that he will not let any work be stopped whether he is in jail or out of it," he said in a Delhi government statement.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader alleged that Saxena "always tried to obstruct the work of the people of Delhi" through his "favourite officers".
Now, the LG is also saying that the work and schemes of the people will continue in Delhi, instead of stopping the work, he said.
The LG's statement said that he has assured the people of Delhi that none of the subsidy schemes benefitting the poor would be discontinued.
He appealed to them to not pay heed to statements and rumours being spread by "vested political interests".
Saxena underlined that these schemes are paid for by the consolidated fund of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) and not from the account of any individual or political party.
These schemes are funded by the people of Delhi themselves who contribute to the NCTD's consolidated fund by way of taxes, the statement added.
Saxena reiterated that any scheme especially duly approved by the Government of India and the Lt Governor himself before being introduced and passed by the Delhi Legislative Assembly does not get affected because an individual is in jail under judicial custody as per the due process of law.
Bharadwaj said in a post on X, "The ideology which used to call free water and free electricity as 'revadi' is today promising the people of Delhi that no one can stop Arvind Kejriwal's schemes… People of Delhi, this is the power of your son, Arvind Kejriwal. This is the blessing of the people of Delhi to Kejriwal."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka power tussle: BJP leader calls Siddaramaiah 'Sultan for 15 days'
Bengaluru/Bagalkot (PTI): In the midst of the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, senior BJP leader and MP Govind Karjol called CM Siddaramaiah "Pandrah din-ka-Sultan" (Sultan for 15 days), and said after that, he will not be the chief minister of the state.
Speculation has once again surfaced within the Congress party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for Assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, are announced.
"With the fight for the CM chair in the Congress, there seems to be no administration at Vidhana Soudha. The result for Siddaramaiah's CM chair fight will also be declared, along with election results for five states (four states and one union territory) and bypoll results for Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly seats in Karnataka," Karjol, a former Deputy CM, said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "As per today's information, Siddaramaiah is a Sardar for fifteen days, he is Pandrah din-ka-Sultan, after that Siddaramaiah will not be the chief minister of the state."
Stating that Shivakumar is ready to take up the top job, the MP said that this is the reason Siddaramaiah's supporters have gone to New Delhi to meet the Congress President.
"Already 40-odd legislators have lobbied in support of Siddaramaiah; about 50 are lobbying in support of Shivakumar. Amid this fight for the CM chair, the administration has completely collapsed," he said, urging the government to focus on addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer by releasing at least Rs 50 crore per district.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary (in charge of Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala in New Delhi and requested them to address the speculation regarding the change of leadership in Karnataka.
Subsequently, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa too met the party leadership in Delhi.
Both Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa are considered close to Siddaramaiah.
While MLAs and leaders who want Shivakumar to be elevated as CM have recently claimed they expect some "sweet news" by May 15, which is their leader's birthday.
Meanwhile, a team of 40 MLAs is preparing to visit New Delhi to press the Congress high command for a Cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka hit out at the Congress leadership for indulging in "power tussle" instead of addressing the people's concerns. He called the government "anti-people" and "dead" to the people of the state.
With the fight for the CM chair, the ruling Congress in Karnataka seems to be shifting to Delhi. Congress MLAs are repeatedly touring Delhi, upset over the state leadership amid a power struggle between the CM and Deputy CM. This proves that there is no value for the state leadership," he said.
Pointing out that the Deputy CM Shivakumar was not present at the recent special cabinet meeting, which decided on internal reservation among SCs, the opposition leader said, "If the cabinet meeting was held purposely, despite knowing that Shivakumar was in Delhi, it proves that there are factions within the party"
"This government is dead in a way," he said, as he hit out at the Congress MLAs and Ministers, including Shivakumar, for doing "Delhi Yatras" instead of addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer, picking up in the state.
