New Delhi, Feb 22: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence on Saturday even as her Cabinet ministers hit the road and started reviewing repairs of potholed roads and reviewed pending projects across the city.

During the meeting with PM Modi, CM Gupta thanked him for giving a “daughter of Delhi” a chance to serve the people as Chief Minister, said one of her aides.

Before leaving for the PM’s residence, CM Gupta greeted her well-wishers from the first floor balcony of her home in Shalimar Bagh in the morning.

Using a public address system, CM Gupta announced that on meeting PM Modi she would convey, on behalf of all women and daughters of the city, gratitude for selecting a “Daughter of Delhi” to serve the city.

“On the first day in office, we approved the Ayushman Bharat scheme of PM Modi in the first Cabinet meeting,” she said, promising not to waste even a single day and continue serving the people.

“Our mission is to achieve Viksit Delhi as mandated by PM Modi,” she said.

“Viksit Delhi’s journey has to be covered by all of us together,” she said, ending her public address with chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.

Later, the Chief Minister held a meeting with the officials of the PWD department for improving infrastructure and discussed issues related to the dug-up roads, damaged roads and traffic in Delhi and gave directions for improvement.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma inspected the Barapullah Phase-3 project and assured speedy payment and environment clearance that have alleged delayed progress in work.

Speaking to mediapersons near Sarai Kale Khan in South East Delhi, Verma said he had also issued strict instructions for removal of encroachment across Delhi roads. “We want road contractors to guarantee 10-year life for roads so that they do not need frequent recarpeting,” he said.

During another field visit at Khajuri Khas crossing in North East Delhi, Law and Labour Minister Kapil Mishra said, “Arvind Kejriwal’s govt made the condition of roads in Delhi worse. Everywhere, the roads are either broken or dusty, there are potholes and waterlogging and under the new work culture all Cabinet ministers and officials will have to work 24 hours and repair the roads immediately.”

New Delhi: AAP leader Atishi has sought a meeting of AAP MLAs with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to discuss the Rs 2,500 monthly aid to women promised by the ruling BJP earlier during the assembly poll campaign.

In a letter to Gupta on Saturday, Atishi questioned why a scheme on the financial aid to women was not approved in the new government’s first cabinet meeting when the prime minister had promised it in an election rally.

Gupta and her council of ministers were took oath of office on Thursday, following a victory over the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the assembly polls held earlier in the month.

AAP won 22 seats in the polls, Atishi’s Kalkaji constituency being one of them. The BJP was well clear of the majority mark in the 70-seat assembly with 48 seats.

Atishi, the chief minister in the previous AAP government, sought an appointment to meet the CM on February 23, along with her party MLAs.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an election rally in Dwarka on January 31 promised Delhi’s mothers and sisters that the scheme for Rs 2,500 monthly payment would be passed in the first cabinet meeting after the BJP formed the government.”

The first cabinet meeting of the BJP government was held on February 20 but the scheme was not passed, she said, adding that the women of Delhi who believed “Modi’s guarantee” are feeling “betrayed”.

BJP leaders, including the CM Gupta, have asserted that the scheme will be implemented from March as was promised by the party.

Jaipur, Feb 21: The political deadlock in Rajasthan has intensified following the suspension of six Congress MLAs, who in protest, spent the night inside the Assembly, continuing their demonstration. Now, the Rajasthan Congress has announced statewide protests on Saturday over the MLAs’ suspension and over the snide remark on late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the House.

During the agitation, they recited Ramdhuni in the House.

The suspension was imposed on Friday after the MLAs moved toward the Speaker’s dais in protest against Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot’s remarks about late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Despite late-night discussions between government representatives and senior Congress leaders, no resolution was reached.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, Food Minister Sumit Godara, and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham met with senior Congress MLAs in the Leader of Opposition’s chamber, but negotiations ended in a stalemate.

In view of the deadlock, the Rajasthan Congress has announced statewide protests on Saturday.

As part of the agitation, party workers will burn effigies of the minister in all districts to express their opposition to his remarks and the suspension of their legislators.

Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully, after the failed discussions, reiterated the Congress’ stance, saying, “Our position is clear. The talks were conducted in a positive atmosphere, but the government remains stubborn. This is like a thief scolding a police officer. We stand firm on our demand.”

With no resolution in sight, Congress MLAs have set up sleeping arrangements inside the Assembly. Since the House is in recess over the weekend, the protest is expected to continue until Monday when proceedings resume.

The controversy erupted on Friday during the Question Hour when Minister Avinash Gehlot referred to Indira Gandhi as “your grandmother” while discussing a government scheme.

Congress MLAs stormed the Well of the House in protest, leading to a heated exchange. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel defended the term, stating that “grandmother is a word of respect.” However, tensions escalated, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the session multiple times.

Speaking outside the Assembly, Minister Patel remarked, “Our ministers were answering effectively with factual responses. But MLA Rafiq Khan dismissed them as baseless, which led to objections from our side.”

With no compromise in sight, the political standoff is expected to continue, keeping the Assembly in turmoil in the days ahead.