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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rs 59 lakh-renovation for Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's bungalow
The Public Works Department (PWD) will carry out upgradation work worth over Rs 59.40 lakh at Bungalow Number 1, Raj Niwas Marg, which has been allotted to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta , according to an order. The work will be taken up to fix electrical and civil work, and will involve the installation of 14 split air conditioners worth Rs 7.7 lakh, five LED TVs worth Rs 9.9 lakh, and 23 ceiling fans with a remote control costing Rs 1.8 lakh. Fourteen CCTV cameras worth Rs 5.74 lakh will be installed, and the residence will also have a UPS system for power backup. Other appliances include six geysers for Rs 91,000, one automatic washing machine for Rs 77,000, a toast grill for Rs 85,000, and one dishwasher for Rs 60,000. A total of 23 ceiling fans worth Rs 1.8 lakh and, as part of illumination work, 115 lamps, hanging lights, and three big chandeliers will be put up in the house at the cost of Rs 6 lakh. The overall cost of renovation is Rs 59,40,170. Live Events According to PWD officials, repair and renovation work are on at the four-room-plus-hall residence, which was earlier occupied by officials of the LG Secretariat. On the same road, Bungalow No. 2-- earlier occupied by former minister and MLA Gopal Rai -- is likely to be used as a chief minister's camp office. Sources said the CM plans to first start her camp office to handle public meetings. In the run-up to the latest Delhi assembly election campaign , former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal battled charges of sprucing up his official residence with extravagant interiors. The house was dubbed by the BJP as "Sheeshmahal", and the allegation found large traction on conventional and social media. The BJP even made small replicas of the residence and mounted them on vans, which moved across the city as part of its election campaign. After coming into power, Gupta had said that she would not be living in that residence. Officials have also stated that the Bungalow at 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines, where Kejriwal lived, might be converted into a state guest house. Most cabinet ministers in the new BJP government have already been allotted official residences in the city. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )


Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to launch ‘Gujarat Jodo' membership drive
Gandhinagar: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will be in Ahmedabad on Wednesday to launch the party's 'Gujarat Jodo' membership drive. He will meet AAP's state, zonal, district, and assembly-level office bearers during his visit. Speaking to reporters at the AAP state headquarters, Gujarat in charge Gopal Rai said that the party's victory in Visavadar was a "message of change". "Despite the BJP throwing its entire machinery into the constituency, it lost. Only AAP has the strength to uproot the BJP from power in the state," he said. Rai noted that through the campaign, AAP will activate ground-level teams in every assembly constituency and connect with all citizens who want to join the party. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!


New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
AAP rally for slum dwellers a flop show, says Virendra Sachdeva
NEW DELHI: After Aam Aadmi Party's protest against the demolition of slums in various parts of the city, the BJP said that the public rally called by the opposition was an utter flop. 'When AAP leaders addressed the gathering, their anarchic and unconstitutional character was exposed once again,' said Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva. He added that for nearly a month, the entire AAP leadership had been 'spreading confusion', but the slum dwellers not only rejected this false campaign—they are now asking AAP leaders: 'What have you done in ten years to improve the lives of slum residents?' The Delhi BJP chief also pointed out that about five months ago, after losing the elections, AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Rai, and others incited their workers to storm the Prime Minister's residence in the name of slum dwellers. At that time, ordinary slum residents in Delhi were asking Kejriwal: 'You've built a 'Sheeshmahal' for yourself in ten years — why haven't you allocated flats to the poor in places like Narela or Bawana?' Sachdeva remarked that Kejriwal is a two-faced leader, shedding crocodile tears in the name of poor slum dwellers today. But during COVID, instead of protecting them, he forced them to return to their villages. He further stated that the call for an attack on the PM's residence once again revealed the dark, Naxalite-like faces of Kejriwal and Gopal Rai—and they must understand that there is no place for their words in a civilised society. Sachdeva said that the BJP government is committed to giving a better life to slum dwellers who are compelled to live in terrible conditions along drains and railway tracks. 'Just as we have resettled slum dwellers from Kalka Ji, Jailorwala Bagh, Kalandar Colony, and Kathputli Colony, going forward, through the 'Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makan' campaign, we will continue to provide new homes and new lives to slum residents.'

The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
AAP hits the streets over slum demolition drives, threatens mass agitation
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday launched the 'Ghar Rozgar Bachao Andolan (Save homes, jobs movement)' at Jantar Mantar with a protest against the ongoing demolition drives in slum clusters in the city. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused the ruling BJP of betraying slum dwellers and urged Delhi's 40 lakh slum dwellers not to fall for 'Modi ki guarantee' again. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Kejriwal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised 'Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan (Where there's a jhuggi, there will be a house)' before the Delhi Assembly election, but delivered the opposite. 'What he really meant was 'Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Maidan (Where there is a jhuggi, there will be barren land)'. They've thrown the poor into boiling oil and left them to die,' he said, calling the Prime Minister's guarantees 'fake and hollow'. Mr. Kejriwal also said the BJP government would not complete its five-year term if they continue to demolish slums. Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai warned the BJP that the poor will occupy the 'Prime Minister's residence if slums are demolished without providing alternative housing', adding that there would be mass agitation if the demolition drives don't stop. Hitting back, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, 'The call for an attack on the Prime Minister's residence has once again brought to light the dark and Naxalite-like faces of [Arvind] Kejriwal and Gopal Rai and they must understand that there is no place for their words in a civilised society.' Mr. Sachdeva claimed that the BJP government is 'committed to giving better lives to slum dwellers', who were 'compelled to live in bad conditions' along drains and railway tracks in the city. 'New homes, new lives' 'Just as we have resettled slum dwellers from Kalkaji, Jailorwala Bagh, Kalandar Colony, and Kathputli Colony. We will continue to provide new homes and new lives to people,' the city BJP chief said.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Kejriwal warns BJP govt in Delhi may fall if slum demolitions continue
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday warned that the Rekha Gupta-led BJP government in Delhi would not last even three years if slum demolitions continue, as he called for a mass movement against the drive from Jantar Mantar. The AAP organised a massive protest at the site under the banner of the 'Ghar-Rozgaar Bachao' movement. Senior party leader Gopal Rai challenged that if demolitions continue, people will take over the Prime Minister's residence. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva claimed that the AAP-organised rally "completely failed." "The announcement of an attack on the Prime Minister's residence has once again revealed the dark, Naxalite-like faces of Kejriwal and Gopal Rai and they should understand that there is no place for their words in civil society," he added. Addressing a gathering of people, many of whom have lived under the threat of eviction for the past five months, Kejriwal alleged that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of 'Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan' in reality, his government's approach translates to 'Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Maidan'. "Don't trust PM Modi's guarantees they are counterfeit, hollow lies," he added. Hitting out at the Delhi government, he said it has only been five months since the BJP government was formed, and "look at what they've done to Delhi already". "In just five months, they have pushed the city to such a state that people from across Delhi have been forced to gather at Jantar Mantar today to protest against them," he added. Recalling Delhi's political history, Kejriwal said, "From this same Jantar Mantar, the Anna movement began, and it wiped Congress off the map. If you do not stop demolishing jhuggis, this movement has started from Jantar Mantar today, and your government won't last five years. Rekha Gupta's government won't even survive three years if you continue like this." Referring to his warning before the elections, Kejriwal said he had released a video message back then, specifically for the poor and marginalised, for the jhuggi residents of Delhi. "I had even told you that if they come to power, they will demolish your jhuggis within a year, but I never imagined that they would wreck the entire city in just five months," he said. "We left behind a smoothly running Delhi in February a city with 24x7 electricity. Now, the entire city faces power cuts," he emphasised and added that the government would even stop providing free electricity within a year. Pointing to the collapse of civic infrastructure, the AAP chief said in just one rainfall a few days ago, Delhi turned into a drain. Kejriwal, who first became CM after defeating Sheila Dikshit in 2013, also attacked Congress. "These people have completely ruined Delhi just like during Congress rule. You all remember how, before our government, Delhi suffered endless power cuts. Electricity was extremely expensive," he said. Kejriwal said that it took BJP 25 years to come to power in Delhi, and "even after coming to power, they've done nothing but abuse and spread lies. They're filing one fake FIR after another against Manish Sisodia, against Satyendar Jain, against Saurabh Bharadwaj," he said. Sisodia and Jain are facing an anti-corruption branch (ACB) probe in connection with alleged irregularities in the construction of classrooms. Last week, the ACB registered an FIR against Bharadwaj and Jain for alleged corruption related to delays in hospital construction projects. Calling out the BJP-Congress nexus, he said, "Both these parties are the same. In the Delhi elections, they joined hands. BJP and Congress have always been together two sides of the same coin." He reiterated that only AAP works for the people, for the nation, for real change." "These two parties Congress and BJP are like brother and sister, both working together to fool the public," he stressed. He asked people to take a pledge, "I swear, from today onwards, I will never vote for BJP or Congress. Never again will I support these two parties." The Delhi unit of Congress accused Kejriwal of shedding crocodile tears and accused him and his government of not doing anything for slum dwellers when they were in power.