Articles by "Arvind Kejriwal"
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New Delhi, Jul 2  :
   A plasma bank to treat novel coronavirus started functioning in Delhi on Thursday, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that COVID-19 patients can donate their plasma 14 days after recovery.

Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal said the eligibility for being a plasma donor is "very strict", and hoped that with this bank the number of COVID-19 deaths will decrease in the national capital.

Later, he inaugurated the 'plasma bank' and urged those who have recovered from the disease to donate plasma to other patients.

The government has set up the plasma bank at the state-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS).

"Today, we have started the 'plasma bank' and some people have also donated. As we all know there is no vaccine for novel coronavirus yet, but plasma therapy seems to be quite helpful for COVID patients," he told reporters after visiting the plasma bank at ILBS.

It (plasma donation) was happening in a scattered way, so the idea was to bring it at one place in an organised manner, he said

"There are strict guidelines for eligible donors. I would urge those people who have recovered from COVID-19 to come forward and donate plasma to other patients," he said.

The chief minister said people who have recovered from the virus can contact 1031 and WhatsApp number -- 8800007722 -- where they can get details for plasma donation. The donor will also be given an appreciation letter.

"A government doctor will contact the person willing to donate his plasma and get basic details regarding his medical history and other eligibility requirements.

"Thereafter, the person can come to ILBS to donate his plasma. The government will also bear transportation expenses ," he said.

About eligibility parameters for donors, Kejriwal said that those aged between 18 and 60 and weighing not less than 50 kg can donate their plasma.

He said that a women, who has been pregnant in her life, cannot donate plasma, adding that those people, who take insulin and their blood sugar level is not stable, also cannot be donors.

"Those, who have heart, kidney and lung disease, are not eligible to donate their plasma. People having a complaint of hypertension also cannot donate," he said.

Plasma therapy involves taking antibodies from the blood of a person who has recovered from COVID-19 and transfusing those into a coronavirus infected patient to help kickstart the immune system to fight the infection.

During the briefing, Kejriwal said that plasma bank will be successful only when people come forward to donate their plasma for coronavirus patients.

"Till yesterday, around 58,000 people have so far recovered from the virus. With very strict eligibility, a few people will be left, who can donate their plasma for COVID-19 patients," he also said.

"Plasma will be given based on doctor's prescription and the hospital concerned will have to approach ILBS to get the same. I request people to not approach the plasma bank directly," he added.

On Wednesday, Delhi recorded 2,442 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally in the city to over 89,000, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 2,803, the authorities said.


New Delhi, Mar 31 :  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said 1,548 people have been evacuated from Nizamudddin markaz (centre) here of which, 441 were hospitalised after they showed coronavirus symptoms.

In a digital press conference, the chief minister said 1,107 people, who attended religious congregation in Nizamudddin West, have been quarantined.

He said that out of 97 cases of coronavirus in the city, 24 were those who took part in the congregation earlier this month

Kejriwal slammed the organisers of the religious gathering saying it was "highly irresponsible" on their part to hold such an event at a time when thousands have died in other countries due to the pandemic.

He said that his government has already written to Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal recommending the registration of an FIR against the organisers.

Kejriwal further said any lapse in performance of the officers related to the Nizamuddin case will not be tolerated and strict action will be initiated.

He also stressed that there was no community transmission of coronavirus yet in Delhi and the situation was under control.

Out of 97 cases, he said 86 were stable while one was on ventilator and two were being given oxygen.

He said the Delhi government will start distributing food from around 3,775 schools and night shelters to around 10-12 lakh people from Wednesday.

Although such large number of people are unlikely to turn up for food but more distribution points will help in maintaining social distance, he said.

The industrialists trying to help should donate protective gears for medical staff, testing kits and ventilators which are much needed now, he said.


New Delhi, Mar 22 :  Delhi will be locked down in view of the growing coronavirus threat, from 6 am on March 23, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced at a joint press conference with Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Sunday.

The lockdown will continue till 12 midnight on March 31, Kejriwal said.

During the lockdown, no public transport will operate and Delhi's borders will be sealed but the essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue, he said.

Dairies, grocery shops, chemists and petrol pumps will remain open but persons associated with essential services will be allowed to go to their destinations during the lockdown, he said.

"We know people will face difficulties, but lockdown is necessary to contain the spread of coronavirus," the chief minister said.

He also said six of the total cases reported in Delhi were locally transmitted.


New Delhi, Mar 21 :  The Delhi government on Saturday said it had not imposed a lockdown for now, but would have to do if the need arises in wake of the coronavirus pandemic..

During his first-ever digital-only press conference, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said restrictions due to COVID-19 were causing terrible financial stress to the poor.

He announced that those receiving ration from fair-price shops would get 50 per cent extra for next month, and also doubled the pension for widows, differently-abled and elderly for this month.

The government has also reduced the size of social, religious and political gatherings to not more than five persons. It has not imposed a lockdown in Delhi for now, but will have to do it if need arises, Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal said only 50 per cent buses would ply on roads in Delhi during the 'Janata curfew' on Sunday.

"Rs 4000-5000 pension will be paid to 8.5 lakh beneficiaries by April 7," he said.

"Seventy-two lakh people in Delhi get ration from fair price shops. Ration per person being increased by 50 per cent. It will be provided free," the chief minister said.

"We are extremely concerned about daily wagers, labourers amid coronavirus crisis; don't want anyone to go hungry," he said, adding that food would be provided for homeless in night shelters.
System needed to punish rape accused within six months of conviction: Kejriwal
New Delhi, Jan 18 :  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said a system needs to be developed to ensure that rape convicts are punished within six months.

Reacting to the verdict in 2013 'Gudiya' rape case, Kejriwal said it took seven years to find the accused guilty.

"Both accused in the gudiya rape case were found guilty. It took seven years. We need to all together correct this system. If we want to ensure that no one misbehaves with our sisters and daughters we need to develop a system which ensures that accused are punished within six months," he said in a tweet.

Two men accused of kidnapping and brutally raping a five-year-old girl in Delhi in 2013 were held guilty on Saturday by a city court.

Gudiya is a fictitious name to refer a five-year-old girl, who had been raped and brutalised by offenders in April 2013, barely four months after a 23-year-old female physiotherapy intern 'Nirbhaya', was raped and brutalised on December 16, 2012 in a running bus in South Delhi's Munirka area.

Nirbhaya had succumbed to her injuries in Singapore hospital where she had been shifted by an air ambulance for specialised treatment.

All four surviving convicts in the Nirbhaya fgang rape case have been ordered to be hanged till death on February 1. They were earlier ordered to be hanged on January 22, but the execution had been stayed by the Delhi High Court, pending disposal of the mercy petition to the president by one of them.

After the disposal of the mercy petition, a Delhi court issued a fresh death warrant for their execution at 6 am on February 1.


New Delhi, Jan 16 :  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged the Centre to keep politics away and present a budget that is "good" for the national capital.

Kejriwal said he would write to the Centre and request special allocation for tackling pollution and ensuring cleanliness in the Union budget.

"The Centre should keep politics away from the budget and I want to request the Centre to present a good budget," he said.


New Delhi, Aug 5  :   Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said his party supports the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Kejriwal's comments came hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved a resolution in Rajya Sabha to abolish Article 370 of the Constitution after the president issued a notification, and introduced a Bill to divide the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

"We hope this will bring peace and development in the state," the chief minister tweeted.

Kejriwal said the AAP supports the Centre's move on Jammu and Kashmir.

Bhagwant Mann is the AAP's only MP in the Lok Sabha, while it has three MPs -- Sanjay Singh, Sushil Gupta and N D Gupta -- in the Rajya Sabha. 

Kejriwal's stand on the decision drew criticism from various quarters with people questioning the reason behind supporting full statehood for Delhi, but backing the loss of this status for Jammu and Kashmir.

Among prominent people to question Kejriwal's stand were activist Kavita Krishnan, who questioned if federalism is the right of the people of Delhi but not Kashmir.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj defended Kejriwal's stand, saying Kashmir's situation is "180 degrees opposite to that of Delhi". 

"We cannot compare Kashmir situation with that of Delhi & Pudducherry. Two-third of the original Kashmir is under occupation of Pakistan and China. There were around 150 incidents of infiltration that occurred last year in Kashmir. We cannot compare a peaceful state with a disturbed border state," he said in a statement.

"We have supported and opposed central government based on issues. Whenever there is a national interest or a policy of public interest, we have supported it. When we feel a policy of government is anti-people we have opposed it," Bhardwaj added.                           [Agencies]


New Delhi, Jul 1 :  Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday said installation of CCTV cameras has started across the city and asserted that safety and security of Delhiites, especially women is "most important" for his government. 

As per the government's plan, around three lakh CCTV cameras will be installed in Delhi as part of a project to boost security in the city.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has already begun work on installation of 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras.

"Safety and security of our citizens esp women is most imp for us. I am glad that CCTV cameras are finally being installed all across the city in such a big way. Cooperation, support and participation of citizens has made it happen (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

In every assembly constituency, 2,000 CCTV cameras are being installed.

Last month, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Labour Minister Gopal Rai and Urban Development Minster Satyendar Jain had launched CCTV camera project in their respective constituencies.

At an event in his Patparganj constituency on June 23, Sisodia had said about three lakh CCTV cameras would be installed in the national capital as part of a project to boost security.



Lucknow, Mar 24 :   The Aam Aadmi Party Sunday released its first list of candidates in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections.

Rajya Sabha MP and AAP state in-charge Sanjay Singh said the party has fielded Yogesh Dahiya from the Saharanpur parliamentary seat and Shweta Sharma from Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Satish Chandra Sharma is the AAP's candidate from Aligarh, he said.

The party is likely to contest the polls from 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. 

For rest of the seats, the process to select candidates is in the final stage, Singh said.       [Agencies]



New Delhi, Mar 5 :  The Congress will not form an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in the national capital for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit told reporters on Tuesday.

"A unanimous decision has been taken that there will be no alliance in Delhi," Dikshit said.

The announcement by the former Delhi chief minister came following a meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi.             [Agencies]





New Delhi, Feb 28 :  The Delhi BJP hit out at Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, accusing him of speaking the language of Pakistan over the prevailing tension between India and the neighbouring country.


The sharp attack on Kejriwal came after he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being busy with strengthening the saffron party's booth-level organisation at a time when the country was worried about an air force pilot being in the custody of Pakistan.

"Kejriwal is speaking the language of Pakistan. He will be given a befitting reply by people for degrading the sacrifice of soldiers," Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said.

Speaking in the Assembly, Kejriwal had said, "I received many phone calls. People are saying the prime minister should think about the release of the air force pilot, instead of strengthening his booths." 

He also slammed the saffron party, saying, "The BJP is counting corpses, shame on such a party," referring to the killing of the 40 CRPF personnel in the February 14 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.

The prime minister interacted with thousands of BJP workers through video-conferencing as part of the ruling party's "Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot" campaign on Thursday.

Tiwari accused Kejriwal of playing politics at a time when the entire country stood with the armed forces.

"Kejriwal is speaking the language of Pakistan and trying to humiliate the country. He is showing his mindset and behaving like an ISI agent. The people of Delhi will give a befitting reply to him for politicising the sacrifice of our soldiers," the BJP leader said in a statement.

Modi had said this was a new India which would neither stop nor bow down and it was the BJP's pledge to bring him back as the prime minister after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he added.                               [Agencies] 


New Delhi, Feb 24 :  The teacher's association of the Jamia Millia Islamia has written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for establishing a hospital in the university that could be converted into a medical college in future.

"When we look at certain areas, where we can improve upon or progress, we find that three of our contemporary universities like DU, BHU and AMU are successfully running hospital and medical college," the Jamia Teachers' Association (JTA) said in the letter on Saturday.

"We request you to establish a new 500 bedded hospital in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) so that in (the) near future it could be converted into a medical college," it said.

The JTA said the university is situated in a densely-populated area, where more than 90 per cent of the population belongs to the Muslim community and many of them are underprivileged and desperately need quality medical facilities. "But they are not getting these services as there is no hospital nearby." 

The hospital, the JTA said, would enhance the level of the university and lead to accessibility of quality medical services at a very nominal cost to the neglected population residing in the university's vicinity.

The letter pointed out that JMI was running a bachelor's degree course in dentistry, but the students had to go to other hospitals to study medicine.


New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) Several resident welfare associations and civil society groups in Delhi have urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel in the city, claiming the residents were suffering due to price hike.

The central government had slashed the rate of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre on October 4, V K Arora, the convenor of Delhi Residents Forum said.

This was followed by reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) by various states including neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh bringing relief to their residents. 

"We urge the Delhi government to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel in the national capital and bring the fuel prices down," Arora said.

With the festival season on, secretary of Mahila Pragatisheel Association (MPA) Ritu Bhatia said the residents are being forced to use private vehicles in the capital due to lack of affordable and efficient public transport. 

"Due to price difference of about Rs two to three in fuel prices with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Delhiites living near borders are being forced to buy fuel from neighbouring states which is Bharat Standard (BS) IV as compared to less polluting BS VI in Delhi," Manish Chawla, a resident of Anand Vihar said.

"As winters are approaching, use of BS IV in capital is also leading to more pollution in the city coupled with burning of crops in neighbouring states," said VN Bali, the president of RWA Federation, East Delhi said.



New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) The Delhi government on Friday approved a proposal to construct around 5,600 flats for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) at four different places of the national capital, Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain said.

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has approved construction of 5,594 flats for the EWS in Bhalaswa, Sangam Park, Lajpat Nagar and Dev Nagar in Karol Bagh. The flats will be built under an ambitious policy of the Delhi government for in-situ rehabilitation of slum residents.

The decision was taken at DUSIB's board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

After the meeting, Jain told reporters that all the 5,594 flats will have monolithic walls.

While 3,780 flats will be constructed in Bhalswa-Jahangir Puri, 582 will come up in Sangam Park, he said, adding Lajpat Nagar and Dev Nagar will have 448 flats and 784 flats respectively.

The project is expected to be executed with a cost of around Rs 737.26 crore.

Jain said the Board has also approved laying roads, setting up street lights and parks in slum areas across the city.



New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) The Delhi government will challenge the high court's Friday order quashing its circular on giving preferential treatment to city residents over non-residents at the GTB Hospital here, an official said Friday.


Under the pilot project implemented early October, the residents of Delhi get preference at the registration counters, in-patient department, tests and medicine counter service, and identification is done on the basis of voter identity card at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital.

"It is the duty of any government to provide better facilities to the taxpayers," a Delhi government spokesperson said.

"The Delhi government disagrees with the honourable Delhi High Court on the issue of providing facilities to Delhi residents at the GTB Hospital and it will challenge the court's order in the honourable Supreme Court," he added.

The proposal to give preference to the residents of Delhi at the hospital in east Delhi's Dilshad Garden was approved in August by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The high court Friday quashed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's circular on giving preferential treatment to Delhi residents over non-residents at the hospital.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao had earlier reserved its verdict on the PIL filed by NGO Social Jurist, challenging the Delhi government's pilot project.

The court was examining whether the project was violating the rights to equality and life, guaranteed under the Constitution.

The bench had earlier said it had noted the government's "difficulties" related to infrastructure, staff and facilities and added that it would consider if these were valid grounds to deny others their rights under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

The NGO, in its plea, had said the hospital could not discriminate against patients based on their regional identity, while adding that such discrimination was not seen anywhere else in the country.


New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Friday quashed the Aam Aadmi Party government's circular on giving preferential treatment to Delhi residents over non-residents at the GTB Hospital here. 

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao had earlier reserved its verdict on the PIL filed by NGO Social Jurist challenging the Delhi government's pilot project.

The court was examining whether the AAP government's project at the GTB Hospital to give preferential treatment to city residents was violating the rights to equality and life enjoyed by others under the Constitution.

The bench had earlier said that it has noted the AAP government's "difficulties" related to infrastructure, staff and facilities and had said that it will consider if these are valid grounds to deny others their rights under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

At the previous hearing, the Delhi government's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra had told the court that no individual has so far filed a complaint against its October 1 circular initiating the pilot project at the hospital.

Mehra had said that no one was being denied treatment, access to tests or outpatient (OPD) facilities and the hospital was only prioritising whom to treat first.

He had also said that the Delhi government took this policy decision as the huge influx of patients was putting a lot of strain on its infrastructure and staff, and it was also leading to manhandling of doctors by patients or their attendants.

The bench, however, was unimpressed by the contention and had asked, "Who is responsible for this? The courts? Or is it mismanagement? If you cannot manage then stop the facilities." 

The bench had said that the government ought to have evaluated the shortcomings and taken steps to rectify them, instead of taking away the rights of others by changing the manner in which they are provided treatment.

The NGO, in its plea filed through advocate Ashok Agarwal, had opposed the pilot project initiated by the Delhi government at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

It had challenged the October 1 circular issued by the government, claiming that it denies treatment to non-residents at the GTB Hospital.

Agarwal argued before the court that thousands of patients coming from outside Delhi and those not possessing a voter ID card of Delhi were being denied treatment at the hospital subsequent to the issuance of the circular.

The NGO, in its plea, had said that the hospital cannot discriminate against patients based on their regional identity and added that such discrimination was not seen anywhere else in the country.

The proposal to give preference to residents of Delhi at the GTB Hospital in east Delhi's Dilshad Garden was approved in August by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Under the pilot project, residents of Delhi get preference at registration counters, in-patient department, tests and medicine counter service and identification is done on the basis of voter identity card.


New Delhi, Sep 18: A Delhi court Tuesday summoned as accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 AAP MLAs in the Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash assault case.

Prakash was allegedly assaulted during a meeting at Kejriwal's official residence on February 19 night.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal issued summons after taking cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police on August 13.

The court said there were sufficient grounds to establish the alleged charges against the accused in the case.

The charge sheet has also named 11 legislators of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) -- Amanatullah Khan, Prakash Jarwal, Nitin Tyagi, Rituraj Govind, Sanjeev Jha, Ajay Dutt, Rajesh Rishi, Rajesh Gupta, Madan Lal, Parveen Kumar and Dinesh Mohania as accused.
 (PTI)

New Delhi, Sep 8: Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has directed departmental heads to review content of the website of their respective department and update them, according to an official communication.

The chief secretary also directed for the appointment of nodal officer for this work.

The directive came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal issued a note to IT Minister Kailash Gahlot over government websites facing problems for the past few months.

The directives were issued at a recent meeting with principal secretaries and secretaries.

The move intends to provide updated information pertaining to government works to users of department websites.

"The chief secretary directed HODs to review their content on websites and update the same...," stated a written communication of irrigation and flood control department to its officials.

In July this year, the chief minister had issued a strong note to Gahlot over websites working on and off for the past few months.
 (PTI)

New Delhi, Sep 8: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday launched a mega tree plantation drive by planting a sapling at the Yamuna floodplain in Usmanpur village, with thousands others joining him in the initiative.

The government wants to plant 5 lakh trees and shrubs in the city in a day as part of the drive.

Officials said around one lakh students and residents are participating in the campaign at 600 locations across the city to fight air pollution.

Kejriwal said studies have shown 70 per cent of pollution in Delhi originated beyond its borders, but "this could not be an excuse to avoid tackling the situation".

"Apart from massive plantation, we also need to reduce pollution," he said.

A large number of school children attended the tree plantation event held at Yamuna flood plains at Garhi Mandu in Usmanpur.

The chief minister encouraged the students to also plant saplings near their house and take care of it.

Around 32,000 saplings were planted at the venue of the event, a government official said.

The Delhi government's Environment and Forest Secretary A K Singh said the target is to plant 32.5 lakh trees in the current year. So far, around 15 lakh have been planted, he said.

Delhi ministers Satyendar Jain and Rajendra Pal Gautam, AAP MLAs and party leader Dilip Pandey also attended the tree plantation campaign.

Delhi's Environment Minister Imran Hussaain also planted a sapling at his residence.
 (PTI)

New Delhi, Sep 6: A day after Arvind Kejriwal expressed his sadness over Delhi metro becoming out of reach for common man, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Thursday said the Delhi Chief Minister should instead look at the state of public transport system that comes under his government which lacks 7,000 buses.

Addressing the 13th Sustainability Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Puri said Delhi today has the fourth largest metro system in the world, it is a first class asset and most affordable metro anywhere in the world.

"My good friend - the chief minister of Delhi - was expressing sadness that so many people have moved away from the metro. The report has been produced by people who are reasonably credible but they have an agenda where they are not comparing an orange with an orange. What they end up doing was completely falsifying the facts," he said.

"If somebody wants to be sad, they should be sad about the fact that the other public transport in Delhi which comes under the government which has a sanction of 11,000 buses is about 7,000 short," Puri said.

A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had found that after the fare hike last year, Delhi metro has become the second-most unaffordable service in the world among the cities that charge less than half a US dollar for a trip.

Reacting to the study, Kejriwal Wednesday said it is "very sad" that an important means of transport has become out of reach of common man.

Taking a further dig at Kejriwal, Puri said the ridership at any point of time before the hike was 27 lakh and today the ridership has crossed 29 lakh. The study of 2016 which said the ridership would increase to 32 lakh took into consideration the Phase-3 which has not become operational as yet, he added.

The Delhi Metro on Wednesday termed as "misleading" the CSE report which also claimed the Delhi Metro has received nearly 32 per cent less than the number of daily passengers it had hoped to serve this year, saying its earlier projection included Phase-3 which has not become operational as yet.
 (PTI)