Latest news with #Purvanchalis
India Today
03-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
AAP will contest Bihar polls, says Avrind Kejriwal; BJP reminds him of Delhi rout
After a decent show in the Gujarat and Punjab bypolls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that his party would now contest the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled to take place by the end of this year. Addressing a press conference in Gujarat's Gandhinagar, Kejriwal also clarified that AAP will fight the Bihar elections solo and that his party's tie with the Opposition's INDIA bloc was only for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. advertisement"We will contest the upcoming Bihar elections. There is no alliance with Congress. That is why we contested separately in the Visavadar bypoll. The INDIA bloc was only for the general elections. There is no alliance now," the former Chief Minister said. Reacting to Kejriwal's plans, the BJP, which is in power along with the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar, questioned the AAP chief's political relevance beyond Punjab. "Biharis and Purvanchalis shaved off Arvind Kejriwal's head in Delhi and drove him out of Delhi, but that was not enough for him. How much will you use Punjab's ATM? Punjab is already drowning in debt," BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok said in Patna."If Kejriwal comes to Bihar, he will understand his political standing. Welcome to Bihar," he added. advertisementKejriwal's renewed push for expansion comes after AAP candidates won the Visavadar and Ludhiana Assembly seats in Gujarat and Punjab last month — a small but symbolic victory that came as a morale booster for the party still reeling from setbacks in its home turf, this year, the Aam Aadmi Party suffered a major setback as it lost its hold over the national capital, paving the way for the BJP to return to power in Delhi after nearly 27 years. In the Delhi Assembly polls, the AAP failed to retain several crucial seats — including those held by Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Kejriwal, who built his political career on the back of Delhi's municipal and Assembly triumphs, the defeat dealt a significant blow to his core support this, the party has kept its hold in Punjab, where it continues to run the state government, and its recent win in Gujarat has encouraged the AAP to test the waters in Bihar, a state known for its complex caste arithmetic and entrenched political leaders.- EndsMust Watch
Hans India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
AAP protests DDA demolition drive
New Delhi: The ongoing demolition of slum clusters by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has sparked political outrage across the capital, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staging a fierce protest outside the office of Union Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa in Rajouri Garden on Monday. The protest, led by senior AAP leader Sanjeev Jha, accused the government of targeting poor and working-class communities under the guise of development. AAP demanded Sirsa's removal from the Cabinet over alleged 'derogatory' remarks. AAP said Sirsa's alleged 'derogatory' remarks targeted slum dwellers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Sharing videos of the protest on X, AAP wrote, 'The BJP has been calling brothers and sisters of Purvanchal Bangladeshi Rohingyas. Now, Minister Sirsa once again made a hateful statement against Purvanchalis. Today, AAP leaders, workers, and the Purvanchal community surrounded his residence in protest.' Terming the bulldozer action as an 'anti-poor policy,' AAP leaders slammed the BJP-led administration for uprooting families who have lived in Delhi's slums for years. 'These are hardworking citizens who form the backbone of the city, and they are being punished for their poverty,' said Sanjeev Jha, addressing the crowd. The protest took on a more regional tone as AAP leaders alleged discrimination against people from Purvanchal,a large migrant population in Delhi. 'The BJP government is deliberately targeting Purvanchali residents and rendering them homeless. Wherever Manjinder Singh Sirsa goes, he will face the anger of the people,' Jha declared, accusing the BJP of betraying those it had wooed during elections. Residents also voiced their frustration, accusing the government of playing with their trust. 'During elections, everything in our slum was fine. Leaders came, made promises, and asked for our votes. Now they say our homes are illegal?' said one of the displaced residents. 'This is betrayal.' Tensions escalated further as AAP warned that if the demolition drive continued without a proper rehabilitation plan, the protests could intensify. 'If the government keeps ignoring the plight of the poor, this movement will not remain peaceful for long,' party leaders cautioned. Amid the heated atmosphere, security was tightened around Sirsa's office. A heavy police presence was deployed to prevent any untoward incident, and no one was allowed entry into the premises during the demonstration.
India Gazette
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
People were hopeful about BJP govt, but getting homeless: AAP's Gopal Rai
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai on Sunday said that the people of Delhi were hopeful that their lives would change once the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed a government in Delhi and stated it is 'tragic' how people are being rendered 'homeless'. 'When the BJP government came to power, Delhi's people had a hope that something good would happen... It is tragic how people (from slums) are getting homeless... If the BJP thinks that people from various states will run away from Delhi, they are wrong...' Rai told ANI. Earlier, on June 11, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa defended the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) action against illegal encroachment, stating that those whose slums have been removed have been provided with separate houses. 'No slum will be demolished. No person will be removed from the whose slums have been removed have been given separate (AAP) are telling lies only to mislead the people of Delhi. Now they (AAP) are out of power. I want to ask them whether they have given a house to even a single slum dweller?... Prime Minister Modi has said 'Jahan jhuggi wahi makaan,' Sirsa said earlier. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Saurab Bharadwaj on Sunday asked for clarification on the future of all the people whose lives were displaced by the slum demolition exercise of the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government . Bharadwaj further asked whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted the people to return to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. 'I want to ask the Delhi government, where will these millions of displaced people go?... It is the BJP's responsibility to clarify where these people will go, or do you want these people to return to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from Delhi?... Today, the crisis in Delhi is not only about slums, but notices are coming for unauthorised colonies... Slums are being demolished without notice. So far, a total of 10,000 slums have been demolished, rendering people homeless...' Bharadwaj told ANI. He further alleged that while on one hand BJP was uprooting poor Purvanchalis and sending them back to Bihar, on the other hand, they were asking for votes from the people of Bihar. 'This issue is not about AAP. I think every party contesting elections in Bihar should raise this issue that on one hand, BJP governments are uprooting poor Purvanchalis and sending them back to Bihar... and on the other hand, they are asking for votes from the people of Bihar in Bihar...' the AAP leader said. (ANI)
India Gazette
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Where will millions of displaced people will go?": AAP' Saurabh Bharadwaj on slum demoltions in Delhi
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Saurab Bharadwaj on Sunday asked for clarification on the future of all the people whose lives were displaced by the slum demolition exercise of the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government . Bharadwaj further asked whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted the people to return to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. 'I want to ask the Delhi government, where will these millions of displaced people go?... It is the BJP's responsibility to clarify where these people will go, or do you want these people to return to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from Delhi?... Today, the crisis in Delhi is not only about slums, but notices are coming for unauthorised colonies... Slums are being demolished without notice. So far, a total of 10,000 slums have been demolished, rendering people homeless...' Bharadwaj told ANI. He further alleged that while on one hand BJP was uprooting poor Purvanchalis and sending them back to Bihar, on the other hand ,they were asking for votes from the people of Bihar. 'This issue is not about AAP. I think every party contesting elections in Bihar should raise this issue that on one hand, BJP governments are uprooting poor Purvanchalis and sending them back to Bihar... and on the other hand, they are asking for votes from the people of Bihar in Bihar...' the AAP leader said. Meanwhile, AAP is all set to hold a massive protest at the Jantar Mantar today, led by teh party's National Convenor and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, senior leader Manish Sisodia, and Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj, against the BJP's demolition of jhuggis. Senior AAP leader and Delhi Unit President Bharadwaj said the BJP has 'betrayed' the very people who trusted them and voted them into power. 'During the Delhi elections, PM Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders made a solemn promise to the poor living in jhuggis that homes would be built for them at the very sites of their jhuggi settlements. The poor, believing in this promise, voted for the BJP. But merely days after forming the government, the BJP began a merciless campaign of evictions,' he said. The AAP Delhi Unit Chief claimed that over 10,000 jhuggis have already been demolished, displacing more than one lakh residents, rendering them homeless and without any form of shelter or security. 'Where houses have been given, they are in remote locations devoid of basic amenities. Many families have not been given any housing at all under the pretext of being ineligible, forcing them to live on the streets,' he added. (ANI)
The Print
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
AAP to contest Bihar assembly polls: Sanjay Singh
Singh was asked about speculations that AAP, which is a force to reckon with in Delhi and Punjab, besides having made its presence felt in Gujarat, was planning to contest the Bihar assembly elections. The Rajya Sabha MP, who is the party's in-charge for Bihar, spoke to reporters in the state capital where he took part in an AAP dharna against the NDA government. Patna, Jun 17 (PTI) Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh on Tuesday announced that his party will be throwing its hat in the ring for the Bihar assembly polls, which are due later this year. Replying in the affirmative, he said, 'We will be contesting the polls in Bihar. Details like which seats to fight will be decided by the central leadership in due course.' 'In Delhi, the BJP government is treating migrants from Bihar and Purvanchal like citizens of an enemy country. They are being rendered homeless as slums are being demolished with a vengeance. We call upon the people of Bihar to vote the BJP out of power in the state,' Singh said. Incidentally, the AAP, headed by Arvind Kejriwal, after enjoying two consecutive terms in power in the government in the national capital, suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP in the Delhi assembly polls held earlier this year. The Rajya Sabha MP alleged, 'The BJP used to entice Biharis and Purvanchalis living in Delhi, while we were in power, with promises of pucca houses in place of jhuggis (slums). They bared their fangs in the thick of polls when migrant brethren were labelled as Bangladeshis.' 'I had strongly raised a protest in Parliament. I have come here with the message that betrayal in Delhi cannot go hand in hand with goodwill in Bihar (Dilli mein gaddari aur Bihar mein yaari nahin chalegi),' Singh added. He also urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U), and BJP leaders in Bihar to raise their voice against the alleged mistreatment of migrants in Delhi. It remains to be seen how the entry of AAP affects the poll scenario in Bihar which is likely to witness a straight contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, the state version of the INDIA bloc of which the Aam Aadmi Party is also a part. Besides AAP, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party will also contest the polls as it threatens to queer the pitch for both NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. PTI NAC ACD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
