Delhi Drowns Again, BJP’s ‘Four-Engine Government’ Fails as Monsoon Floods Paralyze City
Delhi was once again brought to its knees on Friday as just a brief spell of rain left large parts of the city waterlogged, exposing the complete failure of the BJP’s so-called “four-engine government.” AAP leaders, including Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi, shared videos from Patparganj, Sangam Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, AIIMS, Geeta Colony, Sanjay Lake, South Delhi and MB Road, showing flooded streets and stranded citizens. Taking potshots at the BJP, AAP said if this is how Delhi is to be run, the party should sell off its “four engines” as scrap and buy four boats instead—so that at least Delhiites can navigate the mess left behind by the BJP. Accountability from CM Rekha Gupta and LGHighlighting BJP government’s failure, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “Look at the condition of Sanjay Lake after the rains—the surrounding areas for several kilometres have turned into a lake. Ever since BJP came to power, the number of lakes in Delhi has increased. The BJP government is working very hard, creating more lakes across the city. The AAP Delhi Unit Chief noted, “Manish Sisodia could only build schools and two-three swimming pools in Patparganj, but the BJP has gone a step further—they have converted the entire highway into a swimming pool and are now telling Delhiites, ‘Swim, let’s see how far you can go.’ CM Rekha Gupta is apparently providing new employment opportunities. The BJP has turned the whole of Patparganj into a swimming pool.” AAP Leaders Expose BJP’s Inaction Amid Widespread Waterlogging and Fatal Monsoon AccidentsHe further pointed to the tragedies during this monsoon season, stating, “When water remains collected near the foundations of old houses, their base weakens. In Vasant Kunj, a wall collapsed killing two children. Near Nizamuddin, a roof caved in killing seven people. In Badarpur’s Mithapur area, another wall collapse killed seven more. In Kalkaji, one person died due to a falling tree. At one location, an electric pole fell killing two people. On Raksha Bandhan, an open sewer claimed the life of a two-and-a-half-year-old child.”“This monsoon alone, around 35 to 40 people have died in Delhi due to rain-related accidents. I also recall the tragic incident in Rajendra Nagar during the AAP government’s tenure when three students lost their lives. That was a deeply unfortunate and wrong incident which should never have happened. But at that time, the BJP in opposition created a storm and the LG himself went there. Now, with dozens of lives lost, the LG has not visited anyone. Are these people not dying now? He questioned.
Freedom from Garbage Drive Exposes BJP Govt’s Failure, DPCC Chief Devender Yadav
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav said that proper cleanliness of Delhi should be a round-the-year exercise and not a piecemeal effort, as is being done by BJP’s Rekha Gupta Government, because the extension of the special cleanliness drive “Freedom from Garbage” until October 2 has only exposed the failure of the drive. He said that the original month-long campaing to make Delhi free of garbage was from August 1 to 30, but could not inspire the concerned departments to conduct the drive whole-heartedly to make it a success, instead of extending the deadline to October 2. He said that CM Rekha Gupta, her Cabinet colleagues and the MPs from Delhi had used the launch of the cleanliness drive for a grand photo-op without doing any ground work to ensure that the concerned agencies worked hard to remove the accumulated waste. Devender Yadav said that the Rekha Gupta Government and the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi only make big announcements about making Delhi garbage free and eliminating the three landfill mountains at Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur without doing any actual ground work towards achieving that goal in the past seven months. Devender Yadav slams CM Rekha Gupta and BJP-ruledHe said that the ‘Triple Engine’ BJP Government only made big promises to mislead the people like the previous AAP Government as the city continue to reek of accumulated waste with those in power totally neglecting the upkeep of the city other than making empty promises. He said that though all the sanctioned 62,000 posts of sanitation workers in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have been filled, including permanent and contract employees, the condition of Delhi has only deteriorated with filth and garbage making the life of the people unbearable, providing an ideal platform for mosquitoes to breed. Devender Yadav said that due to massive corruption in the MCD and inaction of the officials, Delhi is not getting any relief from garbage and filth through crores of rupees are being spent every month on the cleanliness drive. He said that sanitation work is rarely done in unauthorised, resettlement and JJ clusters and villages, and is no proper method for cleaning colonies, markets, industrial areas, schools, colleges, public toilets and public places. “The Delhi government and the municipal corporation have completely failed in cleaning and lifting garbage. The BJP government has completely failed in its responsibility to keep the city clean”, Devender Yadav added. Ruled MCD for turning cleanliness mission into a photo-opDevender Yadav said that the fresh announcement of the BJP Government to flatten all the three landfills by December, 2026, is only going to remain on paper as BJP was also responsible for the garbage mountains as it did nothing to clear them during its 15 years at the helm in the MCD before AAP came to further vitiate the garbage removal. He said that when waste-to-energy plants have not been started in Narela, Ghazipur, Okhla and Tehkhand, then how was it possible that the target of removing landfills will be met on time? He said that this was a political conspiracy that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is spreading to mislead the public, if the BJP Government’s track record in the past seven months was any indication.
Purvanchal’s “Badariya” Festival to be Celebrated for the First Time in New Delhi at Connaught Place
People from the Purvanchal region celebrate the retreating monsoon as the “Badariya” festival. This year, a few social and political activists associated with Purvanchal have decided to organize this celebration as a festival in New Delhi.For the first time, under the initiative of the Mata Chakeri Devi Foundation and with the support of the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Delhi, the Badariya Festival will be celebrated at Connaught Place in New Delhi.The inaugural Badariya FestivalMr. Brijesh Rai, the founder of Mata Chakeri Devi Foundation has said that the Badariya Festival will be organized on September 1st from 4 PM at Central Park, Connaught Place, through the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Delhi. The event will feature music, dance performances, and an exhibition. According to Mr. Rai, the festival will see performances by Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, Maithili singer Mr. Kunj Bihari Mishra, along with Ms. Rimpa Shiv, Ms. Vaishnavi Joshi, Ms. Megha Raut, Mrs. Nayyanika Ghosh, the Pathak Sisters, and the Pushpanjali Group. Featuring renowned artists and key political dignitariesAs per the Foundation’s President Mrs. Yogita Singh, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Rekha Gupta, along with other dignitaries, will inaugurate the Badariya Festival. Delhi BJP President Shri Virendra Sachdeva will also join.Key individuals responsible for organizing the event include Mr. Upendra Rai, Mr. Santosh Ojha, Mr. Rajeev Pathak, Mr. Pramod Kumar, and Ms. Apoorva Singh.
AAP Slams ED Raid on Saurabh Bharadwaj’s Home, Calls It ‘Fake Case by Fake Degree Holders’
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday hit out at the BJP after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out a raid at AAP Delhi unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj’s residence. AAP’s National Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar called the action a diversionary stunt, saying it was ordered by “fake degree holders in a fake case” to distract from the raging debate on PM Modi’s forged degree. She said the raid was not only baseless but laughable, since Bharadwaj was not even a minister at the time of the case being cited. Addressing a press conference, AAP Chief National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar stated, “Those with fake degrees have got a fake case registered to trigger an ED raid on Saurabh Bharadwaj. The real issue was simply this — on Monday, the entire country wanted to know why PM Modi refused to show his degree in court. To suppress this news, once again investigative agencies were misused, and a raid was conducted at the home of AAP Delhi Unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj. Perhaps PM Modi’s degree is fake. That is why such absurd allegations have been made, which will not stand before the people and will not stand in court at all.” Pointing to the allegations, Priyanka Kakkar said, “Those with fake degrees are saying that there were irregularities in the approvals given to 31 hospitals in 2016, 2018-19 and 2021. They don’t even file FIRs, they just throw allegations through press releases. But these allegations are utterly baseless because only a minister can give approvals, and Saurabh Bharadwaj became Health Minister in 2023. Before him, Satyendar Jain was the Health Minister, who was harassed by being kept in jail for three years, his family was troubled, his name was maligned, and the result today is that CBI is filing closure reports one by one in his cases.” Questioning the misuse of agencies, she added, “Does the country’s public pay taxes so that ED and CBI can file false cases? Their work was to bring back black money and to catch fugitives like Mehul Bhai Choksi. But their focus is only on filing cases against AAP leaders and silencing their voices. By now BJP and the Prime Minister should have understood that AAP will not be intimidated. For how long will ED and CBI continue tarnishing their names at BJP’s behest? Even the Supreme Court has called them ‘crooks’ and a ‘caged parrot’. These agencies must free themselves from the clutches of this ‘fake degree’ government.” Highlighting AAP’s governance record, Priyanka Kakkar said, “AAP proudly says that we are the only party that worked on education and health services in such a way that BJP lost its sleep. BJP only knows Hindu-Muslim politics and horse-trading. In Delhi, within seven months, BJP has created such a mess that there are power cuts of six hours, waterlogging everywhere, even AIIMS got flooded. Senior BJP leaders themselves admit that under their rule, health and education have gone out of the reach of common people.” Recalling Arvind Kejriwal’s emphasis on healthcare, she asserted, “Arvind Kejriwal repeatedly says that the middle class is one hospital bill away from poverty. We were fixing this system — and we did fix it. BJP should try doing this in their states too. Instead of raiding us, they should catch the real thieves for whom ED and CBI are paid salaries from the people’s taxes. In court, ED and CBI are humiliated repeatedly, yet they feel no shame.” Making AAP’s stand clear, Priyanka Kakkar said, “AAP will not be scared of these absurd allegations and BJP’s politics of vengeance. Pay some attention to the governance of Delhi and the country. The world is moving ahead, while we are still struggling for basic facilities.”
Delhi BJP Hits Back at AAP Over ED Raid, Hospital Scam Can’t Be Hidden Behind Ministerial Timelines
It doesn’t matter who was the minister when — because this is an investigation into the hospital construction scam, not the decision to build hospitals.“Can Saurabh Bharadwaj, who calls the ED investigation fake, take an oath and say that, as Health Minister, he never approved any emergency or additional tender purchases related to hospital construction?” The people of Delhi want to know from Arvind Kejriwal why he failed to complete even a single new permanent hospital, let alone the 7 temporary hospitals announced during COVID-19?” Delhi BJP President Shri Virendra Sachdeva has stated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a party of illusions, whose leaders are experts in spreading confusion to cover up their government’s corruption. Today, when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the residence of former minister Saurabh Bharadwaj in connection with the long-registered hospital construction scam, the usual panic among AAP leaders led them to spread confusion once again. Virendra Sachdeva questions AAP’s failure to complete hospitalsAAP leaders are now claiming that Saurabh Bharadwaj was not a minister when the decision to build the hospitals was made. While that may be true, the real question is: Can AAP deny the fact that Saurabh Bharadwaj was a minister during the actual construction of the hospitals? BJP asks AAP leaders to answer whether it is not true that their government failed to complete the construction of even a single announced hospital. The reason being, most of these announcements were made with half-baked plans and only basic building funds allocated. Their government merely provided budget for laying bricks and announced the construction of hospitals, but did not allocate any funds for essential components like electricity, water infrastructure, operation theatres, wards, or other medical infrastructure. During the Kejriwal government’s tenure, there was a continuous pattern of approving small-scale tenders and emergency purchases at the ministerial level to keep construction going. During this entire “fund allocation game,” Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Saurabh Bharadwaj held ministerial posts and played key roles. Delhi BJP President questioned AAP leaders. Challenges Saurabh Bharadwaj to deny approving emergency tenders as Health MinisterCan Saurabh Bharadwaj, who is dismissing the ED probe as fake, take an oath and say that he never gave any approval as Health Minister for emergency or additional tenders related to hospital construction? Virendra Sachdeva stated that “who was minister when” does not matter here — because this is about investigating a scam in hospital construction, not about who made the decision to build them. He further said that this isn’t just a case of loot in the construction of 11 permanent hospitals — the people of Delhi want to know from Arvind Kejriwal why not even one permanent hospital was completed, and why the 7 temporary hospitals announced during COVID-19 were never finished either.
Water Crisis Deepens in Delhi, BJP and AAP Slammed for Broken Promises DJB in Rs 63,000 Cr Debt says Devendra Yadav- President Delhi Congress
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Shri Devender Yadav said that what Delhi Congress has been saying, supported with facts and figures for the past 12 years, that most parts of Delhi thirst for drinking water and in many colonies, residents have to either depend on the tanker mafia or spend huge sums for purchasing bottled water from the market, has been validated by a water audit conducted by a private agency Greenpeace India. He said that the water audit has pointed out a huge gap in the supply and demand for water and residents incur high costs for purchasing water from shops. He said that water is a basic right of the people, their right to life in fact, yet, in a lopsided priority, the Rekha Gupta Government has not given any attention to address this vital aspect of existential crisis facing the residents of the Capital. Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav cites Greenpeace audit to expose massive water supplyDevender Yadav said that the Aam Aadmi Party Government ruined Delhi with the so-called “free” water promise, as residents neither got free water nor even potable water through the Delhi Jal Board pipelines. He said that the water supplied, that too in fits and starts, during the AAP regime, was unfit for human consumption, forcing residents to depend on the tanker mafia or bottled water from the market for their daily consumption. He said that the Kejriwal Government’s deal with the tanker mafia virtually handed over the potable water supply into the hands of the water mafia to inflict huge financial burden on the common people and pushed the once-profit-making DJB into a debt trap of Rs 63,000 crore. Demand gap; slams AAP’s tanker mafia nexus and BJP’s failure to install promised waterDevender Yadav said that the BJP, in its “Sankalp Patra” (manifesto) for the Delhi Assembly elections, had made several promises among them were “free and clean water”, and if BJP comes to power, “Our government will not make any excuses or blame others for the problems related to Delhi’s health, traffic, electricity, water, transport, etc”. and will find “effective solutions by collaborating with the neighbouring states”. He said that the. BJP had also promised that “we will install water ATMs to provide clean drinking water in JJ clusters; continue providing free water to JJ clusters’ residents; will implement the Jal Jeevan Mission and effectively address the issue of polluted water in JJ clusters” but none of this was implemented. He said that a disturbing fact about the agency’s findings is that 200 families in the Mansarovar Park in West Delhi spend Rs 60 lakh annually for purchasing drinking water, and over all, 34% people of Delhi purchase water from private supplies, including bottled water, and 34% of households spend 15% of their budget for water, 1.e Rs 80 to 100 daily for bottled water. ATMs and provide clean, free waterDevender Yadav said that it was shocking that the BJP could install just 24 water ATMs by June despite the Delhi Government’s announcement in April 2025 that 3000 water ATMs will be installed. He said that the BJP has not fulfilled any of its election promises, including Rs 2500 per month to every woman, and the Government seems to be least concerned about the water woes of the residents, as most households end up spending Rs 6000 to Rs 10,000 for purchasing drinking water every month, which exposes the failure of the BJP Government.
Illegal constructions in Delhi thriving due to collusion between BJP-ruled MCD officials & builders said Saurabh Bharadwaj
Corruption inside BJP-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) burst into the open during a Standing Committee meeting when BJP councillor Pankaj Luthra accused South Shahdara Zone Deputy Commissioner of extorting money from an under-construction building. The DC hit back, alleging pressure from the councillor, while the MCD Commissioner went further, calling BJP councillors blackmailers. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi Unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj said this exposes the deep nexus of BJP officials and builders running illegal construction rackets. He demanded BJP clarify whether its councillors are blackmailers or DC Badal Kumar is corrupt, while confirming that AAP has already written to CVC and CBI demanding a full probe.Demands CBI probe into alleged collusionAddressing a press conference, AAP Delhi Unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj pointed to the explosive developments in the MCD Standing Committee, stating, “On Wednesday, during the Standing Committee meeting of MCD, shocking revelations raised big questions for the BJP. The meeting was attended by MCD Commissioner Ashwini Kumar, Deputy Commissioners of various zones, all Standing Committee members, and the Chairperson.” He continued, “In that meeting, BJP’s Shahdara South Zone Standing Committee member and councillor Pankaj Luthra said that a construction project in his area had an approved map, yet the MCD’s Junior Engineer was demanding money. When he questioned the Junior Engineer, he replied that this demand came from Shahdara South Zone Deputy Commissioner Badal Kumar. This is a grave charge—a BJP councillor, in front of the Commissioner himself, accused his own Deputy Commissioner of extorting money from illegal constructions.”Saurabh Bharadwaj slams BJP over MCD corruption rowSaurabh Bharadwaj said, “In a normal situation, one would expect Commissioner Ashwini Kumar to order an inquiry and assure action against the guilty. But that did not happen. Instead, Deputy Commissioner Badal Kumar stood up and said that BJP councillor Pankaj Luthra himself had invested money in the building and was pressuring him.” He added, “Not just this, Commissioner Ashwini Kumar, while pointing towards BJP councillors, repeatedly said that all of them are blackmailing. BJP councillors were called ‘blackmailers’, and the Commissioner labelled elected representatives again and again as blackmailers.” Saurabh Bharadwaj asserted, “The BJP’s councillors should drown in shame. In their own Standing Committee, their Commissioner openly called them blackmailers, yet not a single councillor had the courage to stand up and say, ‘What nonsense are you speaking’? AAP Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD Ankush Narang also told AAP councillors today that if they are calling BJP councillors blackmailers, then tomorrow they will call AAP councillors blackmailers too. This is about the dignity of public representatives. How can any Commissioner generalise and call elected representatives blackmailers?”
BJP Counters AAP Criticism, Credits Monsoon Preparedness for Zero Waterlogging Deaths
If Aam Aadmi Party leaders had worked with the same dedication in government as they do in spreading lies and misinformation, perhaps the public wouldn’t have rejected them Delhi BJP spokesperson Mr. Praveen Shankar Kapoor has stated that Delhi Aam Aadmi Party President Saurabh Bharadwaj appears shocked by the BJP government’s master plan to prevent waterlogging and ensure timely drainage. From 2015 to 2024, when Delhi turned into a lake every monsoon, he conveniently avoided responsibility — and has now reduced himself to making baseless statements. Questions Track Record on Waterlogging DeathsThe Delhi BJP spokesperson said that the first phase of this year’s monsoon is coming to an end, and due to both divine grace and the government’s efforts to prevent waterlogging, not a single death has occurred as a result of water accumulation. Mr. Kapoor reminded Mr. Bharadwaj that during his own tenure as minister, there were 30 accidental deaths due to waterlogging in Delhi in July 2024 alone.Mr. Praveen Shankar Kapoor added that if Aam Aadmi Party leaders had invested as much sincerity in governance as they do in fabricating lies and creating confusion, the public might not have rejected them. BJP Hits Back at AAP Over Flood ClaimsAAP-bureaucracy blame game A chief secretary was reportedly accused of “sitting” on a critical Storm Water & Drainage Act and holding up the Master Drainage Plan, which remained unimplemented from August 2023 through early 2024 Counter-accusation: He asserted that Bharadwaj, during his tenure as minister overseeing flood control up to 2024, “conveniently avoided responsibility” while Delhi suffered waterlogging every monsoon from 2015 to 2024, including 30 accidental deaths in July 2024 alone. Kapoor suggested this record should shame the AAP leadership and implied their public messaging is deceptive.
Congress Reaffirms Commitment to Social Justice, Equality, and Federalism at National Conclave
Thanking the legal department for organizing the National Conclave, AICC Treasurer & Member of Parliament, Shri Ajay Maken defined the ‘5S’ pillars of the Congress party’s ideology – Samvidhaanwaad (Constitutionalism), Samajik Nyay (Social Justice), Samaveshi Vikas (Inclusive Development), Sarvdharm Sambhav (Equality of all religions) and Sanghiya Dhanche Ka Sanrakshan (Protection of the Federal structure. Shri Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka emphasized that, “Social justice is not a mere slogan for us, it is a way where law speaks to bring equality”. Underlining the efforts of the Congress party to implement the Caste Census in Karnataka, he said that the Congress government in Karnataka is fulfilling the idea of social justice to ensure the equality. 5S’ Ideology Defines Congress VisionExposing the BJP’s conspiratorial attempt to remove reservation, Shri Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana said it was the Congress party which saved these malicious attempts and ensured reservation for SCs, STs and OBC’s. Stating that the RSS wants to now remove PM Modi, he said it is not for the RSS to remove the Modi ji, it is the Congress party, under Kharge ji and Rahul ji will do it. Shri P. Chidambaram, Former Union Minister & Member of Parliament said that the issue in hand is the intersection of social justice and equality and intersection of law. Citing the example of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, he said that they were the “most revolutionary amendments”, which transformed the Gram Panchayats and ensured social justice and representation of the excluded SCs and STs. Congress leaders accused the BJP of undermining constitutional values and reservation rightsIndia is vibrant country democracy. The SIR is Bihar is excluding the 65% which 8 to 10% of the state. We must realise that the that BJP is using the Constitution of India to destroy the Constitution of India, itself. It is our duty to stand always by the Equality, Fraternity and Justice Deputy Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Shri Gaurav Gogoi, said that, present regime has forgotten the Northeast. The Prime Minister did not even visit Manipur. 200 plus people were killed. 60,000 people were displaced. Be it Pahalgam or be it Pulwama, the Home Minister has not taken any responsibility. Just like the PM does not take any responsibility, the Home Minister never apologizes. while pledging stronger representation, caste census, and women’s equalityRajya Sabha MP, Shri Shakhtisinh Gohil said that Article 14 of the Constitution talks about equality before law, but this Government has double standards for the Opposition. Lok Sabha MP, Shri Deepender Singh Hooda, said that the new name of BJP should be “Bhaichara Jalao Party”.Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP, Shri Vivek Tankha, focused on issues of gender equality, noting that “rural women work more but get less pay”. Additionally, Shri Tankha lauded the move to ensure reservation for one-third of the seats in the Parliament and State Assemblies, however, was cognizant of the fact that the same would not lead to any substantive change, lest political parties accommodate and prepare themselves for women to play a large role.
Sunita Kejriwal Slammed by BJP for ‘Dynastic Politics’ and Broken Women’s Honorarium Promise
Mrs. Sunita Kejriwal should explain why, even after three and a half years, women in Punjab have not received the promised honorarium hikha Roy Delhi BJP Spokesperson and MLA Mrs. Shikha Roy stated that it was surprising to see Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal sent his wife, Mrs. Sunita Kejriwal, as the chief guest at the party’s Teej celebration. This act, she said, confirmed that the Aam Aadmi Party is a family-centric party and that Mrs. Kejriwal is being positioned as his political successor. Mrs. Roy added that if Arvind Kejriwal had wished, he could have chosen senior women leaders such as former Chief Minister Ms. Atishi Marlena, former Deputy Speaker Mrs. Rakhi Birla, or former Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi to be the chief guest. Instead, by selecting his wife, he disrespected the idea of independent women empowerment. Says Kejriwal positioning wife as political heirMrs. Shikha Roy further said that it was unfortunate that, like her husband, Mrs. Sunita Kejriwal chose to deliver her first political speech by spreading lies and misinformation.The BJP spokesperson asserted that Mrs. Sunita Kejriwal’s claim about conditions being imposed on free bus travel for women is entirely false. Every state provides such facilities to its own residents, and all women residing in Delhi continue to receive free bus service — and will continue to do so. Delhi BJP’s Shikha Roy slams AAP for dynastic politicsMrs. Roy also stated that the Delhi committee is formulating rules, and the women’s honorarium scheme will be implemented soon. Before questioning the BJP government’s five-month tenure, Mrs. Sunita Kejriwal should clarify when her party’s government in Punjab will begin providing the promised ₹1,000 monthly honorarium to women. She should explain why, even after three and a half years, women in Punjab have still not received this honorarium.
