Delhi punished Kejriwal, now he is repeating same drama in Punjab: BJP MP

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Tuesday launched a strong attack on national AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, saying that he was repeating his failed Delhi formula in Punjab and was forgetting that the people in the national capital have punished him.

Khandelwal was reacting to the BJP’s poster criticising the AAP government for failing to deliver on its promise of a drug-free Punjab.

The BJP Punjab post on X criticises the AAP government for failing to deliver on its promise of a drug-free Punjab by May 31, a deadline set after multiple missed targets, including one in December 2024, by the AAP.

Khandelwal accused Kejriwal of rehashing his “failed theatrics” from Delhi in Punjab, a state he says is already grappling with serious issues like drugs and alcohol.

“We all know that for a long time, Punjab has been suffering due to issues like drugs and alcohol. The common people are troubled, the economy of Punjab is struggling, and the state is not progressing as much as it should. After being wiped out in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal is now staging the same kind of drama in Punjab that he previously did in Delhi. But he forgets that the people of Delhi have punished him for those theatrics,” Khandelwal said.

Separately, on the controversy triggered by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s tweet about the 1971 war and the Rann of Kutch boundary settlement, Khandelwal defended his party colleague, asserting that India does not need foreign mediation.

“Whatever Nishikant Dubey has said, he must have stated it responsibly and based on facts. But India’s stance has always been clear: we speak directly, and we have never accepted mediation. And mediation for what? The sins committed by Pakistan are being aptly dealt with by India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership,” Khandelwal said.

“This narrative of mediation has been pushed by some people who do not want to see India progress under PM Modi’s leadership,” he added.

Earlier, Nishikant Dubey had accused former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of compromising national interest during the Rann of Kutch boundary agreement post-1965 conflict, alleging that the Congress government “auctioned off Indian land” under US pressure.

–IANS

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With new fare hike, Bengaluru Metro becomes most expensive transport system in India

Ahmedabad, Feb 11 (IANS) Metro commuters in the city will now have to shell out more as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has implemented a fare hike of nearly 50 per cent. The revision, based on recommendations from the Fare Fixation Committee, marks one of the biggest increases in recent years.

For the first time, BMRCL has also introduced peak and non-peak-hour pricing, aiming to regulate congestion during busy hours. While smart card users will receive a 5 per cent discount during peak hours, they can avail of a total 10 per cent discount during non-peak hours. However, even with these discounts, the hike has raised concerns among daily commuters.

Under the new fare structure, the minimum fare remains Rs 10 for a distance of 0-2 km, but the maximum fare has increased from Rs 60 to Rs 90 for trips beyond 25 km. Commuters travelling between 10-12 km will now pay Rs 60, while those covering 15-20 km will be charged Rs 70. The fare for journeys between 20-25 km is Rs 80, making it one of the highest Metro fares in the country. Additionally, the minimum balance required on smart cards has been raised from Rs 50 to Rs 90, adding to the financial burden on passengers.

In comparison, the Delhi Metro, which is India’s largest Metro network, has a more affordable pricing system despite covering a much larger area. The maximum fare in Delhi is Rs 60, significantly lower than Bengaluru’s revised maximum of Rs 90. Delhi Metro fares are based on distance slabs, with the lowest fare at Rs 10 for up to 2 km and Rs 50 for distances exceeding 32 km. Unlike Bengaluru, Delhi Metro does not implement peak-hour pricing but offers discounts to passengers using Metro cards, further reducing the effective travel cost.

The Ahmedabad Metro, which has a relatively smaller network, also maintains lower fares than Bengaluru’s. The minimum fare in Ahmedabad is Rs 5 for the first 2 km, while the maximum fare for a full 40 km stretch is Rs 25. Even for long distances, the fares remain significantly lower than Bengaluru’s revised pricing. The Ahmedabad Metro primarily caters to local commuters and aims to provide affordable public transport options, keeping its fares among the lowest in the country.

In Pune Metro, fares are structured similarly to Bengaluru’s old system, with rates starting at Rs 10 and going up to Rs 40 for longer distances. The Pune Metro network is still expanding, but its fare system remains relatively affordable in comparison to Bengaluru’s new structure.

Kolkata Metro continues to have the lowest fares among all Metro networks in India. With a starting fare of Rs 5 and a maximum fare of Rs 25, Kolkata Metro remains one of the most budget-friendly urban transport systems. Despite operating one of the oldest Metro networks in the country, Kolkata has managed to keep travel costs low, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of commuters.

With this fare hike, Bengaluru now has become one of the most expensive Metro systems in India. While authorities justify the increase as necessary for expansion and operational efficiency, passengers argue that the hike may discourage the use of public transport, pushing more people towards private vehicles and worsening traffic congestion.

–IANS

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Former Andhra Pradesh minister Rajini’s brother-in-law arrested in extortion case

Hyderabad, April 24 (IANS) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Andhra Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and former minister Vidadala Rajini’s brother-in-law, Vidadala Gopi, in an extortion case.

ACB officials took him into custody near Wipro Circle in the Gachibowli area of Hyderabad. He was shifted to the Gachibowli Police Station.

Gopi will be taken to Vijayawada, where he will be produced before a court.

The ACB last month registered former home minister Vidadala Rajini in an extortion case, along with suspended IPS officer Palle Joshua and two others. They have been accused of extorting Rs 2.2 crore from the owners of Sri Lakshmi Balaji Stone Crushers in Palnadu district’s Edlapadu under the previous YSRCP government.

Rajini has been named the main accused, followed by the then Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Officer (RVEO) Palle Joshua, Rajini’s brother-in-law Vidadala Gopi, and her personal assistant Dodda Ramakrishna. They have been accused of abuse of power, criminal misconduct, and extortion.

Nallapaneni Chalapathi Rao, the managing partner of the stone-crushing company, alleged that Rajini colluded with the other accused to extort a bribe of Rs 2 crore for herself, with Joshua and Gopi allegedly extorting another Rs 10 lakh each.

Chalapathi Rao alleged that Rajini and Joshua initially demanded Rs 5 crore to allow his company’s operations to continue.

Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance and Enforcement department conducted an inquiry and reportedly submitted a report to the state government on December 3, 2024.

On February 18, the government granted permission to the ACB to probe Joshua and Ramakrishna. Last month, the government clarified that since Rajini was an MLA at the time of the alleged offence, her actions did not fall under the purview of official duties, making Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act inapplicable.

Based on the V&E report, the ACB registered a First Information Report (FIR) for bribing a public servant, corruption, extortion and criminal conspiracy.

The Central Intelligence Unit of the ACB is investigating the case.

Terming the allegation as false, Rajini said it was the TDP-led coalition’s “political vendetta”.

She alleged that TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, who left the YSRCP just before the 2024 Assembly elections, had fabricated the case against her out of personal vendetta.

Rajini has filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

–IANS

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BPSC examination row: Pappu Yadav calls for ‘Bihar Bandh’ on Jan 12

Patna, Jan 7 (IANS) Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, on Wednesday called for a state-wide bandh on January 12 to press for the demand of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) candidates seeking cancellation and re-conduct of the examination.

He has urged the Mahagathbandhan leaders to join the protest seeking cancellation and re-conduct of the 70th BPSC examination.

The announcement came after Pappu Yadav met Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan at Raj Bhavan in Patna on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Yadav handed over a memorandum, alleging irregularities in the BPSC examination and sought a thorough investigation into the alleged paper leak and administrative “failures”.

Yadav revealed that the governor assured him of a proper investigation into the paper leak case, not just for the 70th BPSC examination but also for other exams conducted in the past.

“During my conversation with the governor, I raised several concerns about serious irregularities, a lack of transparency, and administrative failures in the 70th BPSC Preliminary Test. These issues have deeply hurt the credibility of the examination system. The circumstances of the examination and its aftermath are extremely worrying,” Yadav said.

Yadav was accompanied by prominent leaders, including Premchand Singh, Rajesh Pappu, Raghavendra Kushwaha, and Faizan Ahmed.

Addressing reporters outside the Raj Bhavan, Yadav criticised political strategist-turned-politician and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, saying “He has made the students’ movement a pawn to run his political shop.”

He mocked Kishor’s suggestion that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav should lead the students’ movement, labelling it as an attempt to exploit students’ protests for political gains.

Pappu Yadav also condemned the Bihar Police for allegedly suppressing peaceful protests by students.

Referring to the lathi-charges on students during their satyagraha in Patna, Yadav stated, “The police resorted to force thrice, violating the students’ right to peaceful protest. This is not only against their interests but also an attack on democracy.”

–IANS

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