Rahul Gandhi avoids question on Malegaon blast verdict, slams centre's policies
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta addressed various issues in a detailed interview, including criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party over waterlogging concerns. She highlighted her government's efforts to remove 25,000 metric tonnes of silt from city drains to mitigate flooding and discussed reducing the Ghazipur landfill's height from over 60 meters to approximately 30 meters. Gupta invited former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a public debate, referencing the 'Sheesh Mahal' controversy surrounding his bungalow worth seventy crore rupees. She announced a city-wide cleanliness campaign, 'Delhi ko koode se ajadi,' starting August 1. Gupta also discussed amendments to the 1954 Shops and Establishment Act, enabling women to work night shifts, emphasizing the government's role in ensuring safety. Additional topics included pollution control measures like dust mitigation plans, water sprinklers, and smoke guns. Contrasting her governance style with her predecessor, Gupta stated she cannot indulge in luxury funded by public money.
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Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Housing to all, Yamuna rejuvenation in Delhi CM's I-Day announcements
Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday pledged to provide houses for all slum dwellers, rejuvenate the river Yamuna, make the national capital's infrastructure the 'best in the country', and ensure progress in all sectors such as transport, education, water supply, housing and welfare. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta with Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kiren Rijiju, Pralhad Joshi, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during the 79th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort in New Delhi on Friday. (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) She was speaking at the Independence Day celebrations at Chhatrasal Stadium in north Delhi. After delivering her speech, Gupta walked to the ground, under rainfall, and greeted the contingents and groups of students. 'The government is committed to giving every slum dweller not just a home but also a safe life, a bright future for their children, and basic amenities, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's the national capital, Delhi deserves the very best infrastructure and arrangements in every respect. Governments have come and gone for years, but now is the time to place Delhi among the finest cities in the country,' Gupta said. 'Yamuna was neglected for years, no action was taken to fix its pollution. I promise that we will restore the Yamuna to its full glory. Right from the first day, the government has dedicated itself to cleaning the Yamuna. The government has started a time-bound action plan such as installation of decentralised sewage treatment plants to clean the Yamuna,' she said. Every year, the Delhi government holds Independence Day celebrations at Chhatrasal Stadium where a ceremonial parade featuring contingents from the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, and school students is held. Gupta referred to the recently passed education bill to check arbitrary fee hikes in private schools, saying, 'It will act as a guardian of parents' finances and prevent any form of economic exploitation.' The government has also increased rewards for sportspersons to encourage youth participation in sports. 'Until now, sports had not been given due attention in Delhi, but for the first time, the Delhi government has set awards and sports honours higher than those of any other state in the country. Players competing at the national level and in the Olympics will not only receive awards worth crores of rupees but also be assured of job security. Additionally, the Delhi government will establish anti-drug clubs, provide start-up support, and introduce other measures for the secure and prosperous future of the youth,' Gupta said. Highlighting achievements in healthcare, Gupta said that on her government's first day in office, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana was implemented in Delhi. 'In the field of healthcare, the government aims to set up 1,100 'Arogya Mandirs' (wellness centres), of which 166 have already been completed. In August, five major hospital expansion projects will be inaugurated, adding 1,300 new beds, modern OPDs, and advanced medical equipment. Furthermore, 28 hospitals have been assigned new medical superintendents, and 1,500 nurses have been given permanent appointments,' said Gupta. Gupta announced several welfare measures, including that the government will create a board for gig workers, provide housing for all slum dwellers, and establish crèches for working women. Gupta further flagged reforms made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to streamline licensing processes for ease of doing business, promising development across transport, sanitation, education, and infrastructure.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Tourism, Welfare In Focus In Rekha's I-Day Address
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta used her maiden Independence Day address at Chhatrasal Stadium to unveil initiatives spanning worker welfare, women's empowerment, environmental renewal and tourism development. Gupta also announced an ambitious tourism blueprint for Delhi, which included a 12-km Chhath Ghat along the Yamuna, a regular Yamuna Aarti, a heritage tourism circuit, and a river cruise service. On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Delhi govt will launch the Atal Canteen scheme to provide hygienic, nutritious meals to workers for just Rs 5, she said. "Delhi govt will stand beside every worker, ensuring jobs, education for their children, and basic family needs," Gupta added. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi Gupta continued her address despite the rain for some time, but wrapped up her speech earlier than expected as children were waiting in the rain. She described herself as Delhi's "mukhya sevika" and vowed that her govt would rid the capital of garbage, corruption and bureaucratic hurdles. She later met and congratulated the marching contingents who had also waited in the heavy downpour. For women in labor-intensive jobs, including taxi drivers, 500 centres and crèches will be set up, she said. Govt has already upgraded 300 Anganwadi centres with modern facilities and improved safety standards. "These measures will transform the lives of the poor and working classes and ensure no one is left behind in Delhi's progress," the CM said. In a strong pitch for environmental reform, Gupta declared that Delhi's future "will not be defined by its problems but by the bold solutions we implement today." The initiatives included the elimination of landfill mountains, expansion of solar power adoption, and citizen-driven action. Marking a push for tourism, Gupta said a heritage circuit would be set up, linking forts, monuments, museums and cultural centres, offering visitors a seamless experience of the city's history. Gupta framed these plans as part of a broader mission to make Delhi a "viksit", or developed, capital. "With small but strong steps, we will create an independent, developed Delhi, one that the world will admire and that will stand as a proud symbol of our nation's potential," she said. She paid tribute to the nation's freedom fighters and hailed the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor. Veteran freedom fighter and a member of the Indian National Army (INA), Rangaswamy Madhavan Pillai, was felicitated. Pillai joined the freedom struggle at the age of 17 under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's leadership. "I don't just promise but pledge to rejuvenate the Yamuna. Several promises were made in the past to clean the Yamuna, but little was achieved," she said. At the Delhi party office, BJP's Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva hoisted the national flag and paid tribute to the martyrs of Pahalgam, and congratulated the Army on Operation Sindoor. He said after a decade of anarchic governance, this Independence Day was one of joy for Delhiites. He pledged to work with govt to reshape the capital. At the Legislative Assembly, Speaker Vijender Gupta led the celebrations. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
CM Rekha Gupta vows to open Atal canteens, calls herself ‘mukhya sevika' of Delhi in her maiden I-Day speech
In her maiden Independence Day address, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta referred to herself as Delhi's 'mukhya sevika (chief servant)' and said that the Delhi government will open 'Atal canteens', offering subsidised meals, on December 25, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The CM also said that the government will provide every slum dweller with a house and reiterated her pledge to clean the Yamuna river. Pledge to clean Yamuna 'Mother Yamuna is Delhi's soul and is in the heart of every Delhiite. Over the years, it has become polluted. Several promises were made [to clean the Yamuna], but not much was done. Today, I'm not just promising but pledging to rejuvenate the Yamuna,' Ms. Gupta said at an event in Chhatrasal Stadium, where she hoisted the tricolour and presented awards to several Delhi government officials. In her budget speech, the CM had announced ₹100 crore for 100 Atal canteens, where meals would be offered at ₹5. Recalling the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that 'every slum dweller in Delhi will get a house', Ms. Gupta said the government won't just provide houses to poor people, it will give them the right to live with dignity. 'I will ensure security for my sisters and a better future for their children,' she said. The CM said her government is working towards making Delhi's infrastructure the best in the country. 'As soon as we formed the government, we started working on waterlogging and potholes. Today, water gets drained from the roads much faster,' she said. Ms. Gupta added that the government will free the national capital of garbage, filth, corruption, red tape, and the 'mindset of servitude'. She accused the previous government of depriving Delhi's residents of the benefits of Ayushman Bharat, the Central government's flagship health insurance scheme, and said that she implemented the programme in the city on the very first day of taking the oath. 'So far, 4.5 lakh people have enrolled in the scheme and started receiving treatment. Under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana (AVVY), 2.26 lakh senior citizens above 70 years of age have been provided free treatment of up to ₹10 lakh,' said the first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh. AVVY allows those aged 70 and above to avail of free secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation of up to ₹10 lakh. Currently, around 100 hospitals in the Capital are registered under the scheme. She said that to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure, the government has set itself the target of setting up 1,100 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, of which work on 166 has been completed so far. Expansion of hospitals Later this month, work on five major hospitals will start, through which Delhi will get 1,300 new beds, new outpatient departments, and state-of-the-art medical equipment, the CM said. Ms. Gupta also paid tribute to freedom fighters and hailed the armed forces for their role in Operation Sindoor. Later, she interacted with the children and personnel from Delhi police and Delhi Fire Services.
