Arvind Kejriwal — ✅ خرید وی پی ان ❇ ip ثایت vPn آی پی اختصاصی ◐

آگوست 1, 2022

Delhi’s new excise policy: Unhappy hours

On Saturday, Sisodia, who also holds the excise portfolio, had said: “We have decided to end the new policy and given directions for government shops to open… I have ordered the Chief Secretary to ensure that there should be no corruption in government shops and no illegal alcohol sold in Delhi… I have given directions that there should be no chaos during the transition period.”

While the government will not be extending the new policy, sources in the Lt-Governor’s office said it has sent a file to the L-G, proposing to extend existing licences for a month till August 31 for the transition to take effect. This awaits the L-G’s approval, said sources. Meanwhile, a government notification issued late Sunday night said licences of country liquor shops (L-3/L-33 licence) will be extended for two months (August 1-September 30), on a pro rata basis.
Meanwhile, the finance department has written to the excise department and heads of four departments — DSIIDC, DTTDC, DCCWS and DSCSC — which used to operate government liquor shops, to immediately provide details of old vends, their locations and staff who used to be employed there. Asked about this, a senior DSIIDC official said, “We also have heard of it but have not received any communication so far.”
Under the old policy, there were 475 government-run shops and 389 privately owned ones.
A government official said, “These government shops were either shut or the space was taken up by private vends on rent. Now, the government has to ascertain how many are open or rented out. More importantly, a proposal has to be prepared and passed in the Cabinet. As of now, a file has been moved to the Chief Secretary and he will send it to the Deputy CM. The Deputy CM will then table it in the Cabinet for approval and forward it to the L-G for final implementation.”

In limbo
Private liquor vends and their employees, meanwhile, are staring at a loss in business and jobs. There are currently 468 vends active in the city, which employ a host of people — salesmen, managers, promoters, sanitation staff, security guards, among others. Many are planning to surrender their licence even if there is an extension, which will see the number of vends go down to 360-400. Most are unsure of what the future holds.
A salesman employed at a liquor shop in Lodhi Colony said: “I have a family of four and I am the sole breadwinner. We are clueless about what is happening — the news says the government has ordered closure of private shops while I have heard from people that the licence may be renewed for one more month. But my employers said our shops will close as the owner does not want to renew the licence.”
He added: “What is our future under the old policy? No one knows or cares about what happened to workers/staff who were earlier employed at government liquor shops.”
A man employed at a liquor shop in Defence Colony said, “I got married recently and shifted to Delhi from Odisha. I don’t know what I will do if I lose my job.”

A manager at a Lajpat Nagar liquor shop added, “When the government-run shop shut last year, many employees joined private vends… but a large number are still unemployed. At private liquor shops, staffers are paid Rs 30,000 a month and a manager gets Rs 45,000-50,000. At government shops, the pay is Rs 20,000…”
To clear out stock over the weekend, several liquor shops were offering discounts up to 25% and offers such as ‘buy one get one free’, ‘buy two get three free’ on premium brands.
Even if licences are extended, there could be a shortage of liquor as several shops are sold out. “We have sold almost all our stock, we are only left with premium liquor which is expected to be sold in a day,” said the manager of a liquor shop in Defence Colony.
A liquor dealer added: “It will take at least a week for paperwork as almost all licences will expire on Sunday,”
Another dealer pointed to the cost involved in the entire process: “To acquire a licence, each zonal vend had invested around Rs 255 crore… An additional Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore was spent on other things such as setting up shops. We also have to pay excise duty and VAT… Considering the expense, small companies are not likely to not renew licences.”

Several shops, meanwhile, saw people queuing up to cash in on discounts. “I heard the shops are shutting for two months. So I thought to stock up as my sister is getting married next month… and there are good offers today,” said Jangpura resident Arvind Sharma, who was waiting outside an outlet in Govindpuri.
Others left empty handed. “We were looking for scotch and beer but it is not available here. We went to at least four shops in South and Southeast Delhi…,” said IT professionals Gaurav and Aniket.
Some customers said the government should allow at least some private vends to operate as government-owned ones don’t have premium liquor. A liquor promoter added, “People will head to Gurgaon now as it is cheaper… shops too are open till late there.”
Behind the rollback
Introduced last November, the new excise policy made sweeping changes to the nature and functioning of liquor trade in the city. The government exited the customer-end of the trade entirely, shutting all government-run liquor vends, and sale of liquor was handed over exclusively to private players. Licences were issued through an open auction. It was decided to open 849 shops divided into 32 zones, with each zone having 27 liquor vends.
The policy soon ran into stiff opposition. While the AAP government maintained it would end the liquor mafia, the BJP accused it of allowing liquor shops close to schools and places of worship.

As a result, of the total allotted vends, only about 630-650 shops could open. Several licencees faced problems in getting permission to open shops in non-conforming areas due to protests by the MCD, opposition parties and the public.
Matters came to a head earlier this month when the L-G sought a CBI probe into the new policy following a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on the matter. The report, which officials said was submitted on July 8, accuses Sisodia of providing undue benefits to liquor vend licencees in lieu of “kickbacks” and “commissions” and the money being used in the recent Punjab elections.
The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police has also initiated a probe following a complaint alleging illegal distribution of zonal liquor licences to manufacturing companies and blacklisted firms in violation of terms and conditions of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

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جولای 17, 2022

Before zero power bill, consumers get one asking them to pay hefty security deposit

Domestic power consumers in Punjab expecting zero electricity bill, as announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, were in for a rude shock with PSPCL authorities all of a sudden sending them bills demanding revised advance consumption deposit (ACD). The ACD is equivalent to charges for 45-75 days of average power consumption depending on the billing cycle of a consumer and, those in the know of things,claimed was usually charged from industrial consumers. Sources said that as of now, the ACD is being charged from consumers having load of more than 7 kw.
Consumers rue that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited authorities are not giving proper explanation on the issue. Powercom, however, claims that at the time of release of power connection, a security amount is sought from the consumer and it is equivalent to consumption charges (fixed or variable) as applicable for two and a half months where bi-monthly bills are charged and one-and-a-half months in case of monthly billing. PSPCL authorities claim that this amount had not been revised and is being done now as many consumers have started consuming more power or have got their loads increased over the years.
Dr Rajeev Garg, a radiologist in Ludhiana’s Aggar Nagar was shocked out of his wits when he received the domestic power bill of Rs 18,000 in the first week of July. “The bill showed arrears of Rs 8,000. I was clueless and had to make rounds of PSPCL office to understand why it has been charged. It is not justified. First, this ACD amount is huge and second, why were we not informed in advance”.

Another consumer from same area, Jastinder Singh Dhaliwal, too has got power bill with arrears of Rs 8,000. “I haven’t paid the bill, even though July 14 was the last date. When CM makes announcement of every small thing through his video messages, why couldn’t he intimate the consumers about this shocker. We are not against social welfare schemes but the consumers, who pay bills, cannot be taken for granted,” added Dhaliwal.
On Saturday, Mann again said the promise of 300 units of free power has been implemented from July 1. “I am going to share good news with Punjabis regarding electricity guarantee…the promise of free electricity has come into effect from July 1…the (electricity) bill for July-August will come in the first week of September… “The good news is that around 51 lakh households will get zero electricity bills…what we say, we do it,” Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi.
The state has around 73.40 lakh domestic consumers.
Sudarshan Jain, president of Knitwear and Apparel Manufacturing Association who lives in I Block of Sarabha Nagar said he has been asked to pay arrears of Rs 32,000 while his brother Ashok Jain, who lives in H Block, has got a bill with arrears worth Rs 24,000.
Said Sudarshan Jain: “We have been asked to bring old receipts of the security deposit. Most of us don’t have those receipts. Why can’t they check their own record books? This is sheer harassment. How can they start asking for revised ACD without prior intimation? Who can or will shell out an additional two-and-a-half months’ bill?”.
A senior PSPCL officer, who didn’t wish to be named, said that the revised ACD charges are being realised “as per the orders of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s orders”.
The consumers, however, are asking why the amount is being charged as “hidden charges”.
Sudarshan Jain said, “They need to issue a public notice or advertise it the way they way they have been advertising other announcements. This revision has come at a time when free power scheme has been implemented. This additional ACD will be used to compensate the PSPCL for the free power that it will dole out”.
Giving 300 units of free electricity was one of the major poll promises of the Aam Aadmi Party during the Punjab assembly elections. In April, Mann had said if electricity consumption exceeds 600 units in two months, then a consumer will have to pay for the entire power usage.
But scheduled castes, backward castes, below-poverty-line households and freedom fighters will be charged just for over and above 600 units, the chief minister had then clarified.

Punjab has a two-month billing cycle for power supply.
When Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented the state budget on June 27, he had said that providing 300 units of free power will put an additional burden of Rs 1,800 crore on the state exchequer. In the state budget, a total power subsidy bill has been proposed at Rs 15,845 crore as against Rs 13,443 crore in 2021-22.
Punjab provides subsided power to various categories and out of which, the subsidy bill on account of free electricity to the farming sector alone is around Rs 7,000 crore.
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ژوئن 20, 2022

Will address water issues in Rajinder Nagar: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday said that his government will work to solve the persistent water problems in Rajinder Nagar constituency.
Acknowledging that water shortage was a problem being faced by residents, the CM during a road show in the area said, “A lot of development work has been done in the area but I acknowledge that some issues need to be addressed. There is a shortage of water supply but I am working on it and I assure that it will get fixed soon.”
Bypolls in Rajinder Nagar are scheduled for June 23. The seat fell vacant after erstwhile area MLA Raghav Chadha was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. Chadha was also the Delhi Jal Board vice- chairperson.
AAP MCD in-charge and Political Affairs Committee member Durgesh Pathak is AAP’s candidate from the constituency. He is up against BJP’s former councillor Rajesh Bhatia and Congress’s former councillor Prem Lata.Best of Express PremiumPremiumPremiumPremiumPremium
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Kejriwal concluded his road shows on Sunday, during which he visited Inderpuri and Pandav Nagar areas of the constituency.
The BJP has been running a high-power campaign in the area, with 15 leaders, Lok Sabha MP Gautam Gambhir, Rajya Sabha MP Dushyant Gautam, state president Adesh Gupta, union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, leader of opposition in Delhi assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and former mayor Jai Prakash campaigning for the party last week.
AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, ministers Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh addressing public gatherings and road shows over the past week.

On Sunday, Kejriwal attacked BJP and said, “I will get all your work done, I believe in working, I do not know how to fight or spread hate. BJP leaders only know how to fight, they sit on dharnas 24×7 in front of my house, there is no point in voting for them. AAP fixed government schools in Delhi to improve the future of your children. AAP is providing uninterrupted supply of electricity for free; women now get to travel for free in buses all over Delhi. I agree that there is a water problem, we are working on it. I will fix all your problems related to water too.”
He also spoke about the problems in crossing the railway line that falls in Budh Nagar, which residents say is a problem since they have to take a much longer way to reach the other side. A wall was recently built to prevent people from crossing the tracks. “A wall has been erected at the railway crossing in Inderpuri’s Budh Nagar and the bridge there has also been closed due to which people have trouble crossing the railway line, we will get it fixed,” he said.

می 31, 2022

Personally read case filed by ED against Satyendar Jain, it’s completely fake: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

A day after Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain’s arrest, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) “completely fake and fraud” and said that Jain was targetted due to “political reasons”.
“I have personally read Satyendra Jain’s case filed by the ED and it is completely fake. All the actions that have been taken by centrally maintained agencies are politically motivated. And in this case, also Jain has been targeted because of political reasons. We have a very honest government, which neither tolerates nor does corruption. This case will not last long, the truth always wins in the end. We have faith in our judiciary,” said Kejriwal.
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“We always stood against corrupt activities and took action against such activities. Corruption of not even a single penny has happened in our government. You must have seen in Punjab, action was taken against a Cabinet minister based on the evidence of an audio recording of the minister indulging in corruption. No one from the opposition or media knew about this incident and if we wanted we could have hid it, but ours is a strict and honest government. Action was immediately taken against the minister and he was dismissed. A similar incident happened a long time ago here in Delhi also and prompt action was taken against the minister immediately,” the Chief Minister pointed out.Best of Express PremiumPremiumPremiumPremiumPremium
“So, I have read his (Jain’s) case and found it to be completely fake and fraud. I myself would have taken action against him and removed him from the position and party, if I had found any fault or anything wrong against him, but this case is completely fake and there is no fault on his part,” Kejriwal told reporters during a field inspection of the PWD’s streetscaping project.
Jain, who holds the portfolios of health, power and home, was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case on Monday evening. The case is based on a CBI first information report lodged against the AAP leader in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act where he was accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him. Last month, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to these companies.

مارس 26, 2022

Delhi Budget increased by 2.5 times in seven years: Kejriwal

“In 2015, when we presented the first Budget, it was Rs 31,000 crore. Now it’s Rs 78,000 crore. There has been a 2.5-fold increase in seven years. This is no less than a miracle,” he said.
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Thanking Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia – who also holds the finance portfolio – for the Budget, he added, “We aim to create 20 lakh new jobs in the next five years. Just saying it takes courage. This was not an electoral promise, this was the Budget. And we have presented the framework to create jobs. This is an innovative and bold Budget.” The government will focus on eight sectors for job creation – retail, food and beverages, logistics, supply, travel and tourism, entertainment, real estate and green energy.

Addressing the issue of unification of the three municipal corporations in Delhi, Kejriwal said, “The MCD Bill has been brought to stop the elections. There are two main things in the Bill. One, the number of wards has been reduced from 272 to 250. What is the benefit? There is no logic. There is only one reason, there will be delimitation. Had the number been same, there would be no delimitation. If that happens, the elections will be pushed for 1-2 years. Second, the entire MCD will be run by the Centre, this is against the Constitution. Once the Bill comes, we will study it. If need be, we will challenge it in court.”
Kejriwal briefly outlined the government’s plan to redevelop five traditional markets, create a bazaar portal which will open up global markets to Delhi traders, setting up a garment hub in Gandhinagar, developing traditional food hubs and food trucks that will operate till 2 am, and redevelopment of non-conforming industrial areas.

The chief minister said the Budget not only takes into account job creation, but also takes care of increasing costs by providing free education, free health, free electricity, free water, and free travel for women. He also spoke about creating roads, sewer systems and water pipelines in unauthorised colonies as well as cleaning up the Yamuna.
When asked about his statement on the controversy surrounding the film The Kashmir Files, he said during the press conference, “In the last 20-25 years since the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, the BJP has been at the Centre for 13 years. In the last eight years, the BJP has been at the Centre. Has even one family been rehabilitated in Kashmir? No one. What the BJP has done is politicise the issue,” he said.

“And now after that, they want to earn crores by making a movie on their pain. Over Rs 200 crore has been earned. It is criminal to make money with a picture on the pain of any community. This is not right. The country will not tolerate it. We only have two demands: put this movie on YouTube so everyone can watch it; second, whatever has been earned should be used for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. And third, concrete steps should be taken so that Kashmiri Pandits can go back to their homes,” he asserted.