AAP, L-G at loggerheads again over power subsidy
Asserting that the AAP government would not let the “conspiracy” to stop the power subsidy scheme in the national capital succeed, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said he would defend like a rock the rights of the people of Delhi. Earlier, city power minister Atishi alleged in the Delhi Assembly that officials were trying to stop the power subsidy scheme at the behest of lieutenant-governor V.K. Saxena, but Kejriwal warned him not to complain later about “dignities” being breached. The BJP however, claimed that the dispute on free electricity being raised in media and social media by AAP is nothing but a ploy to divert public attention from corruption news on Kejriwal’s ministers.
Raj Niwas sources meanwhile said, having been caught red handed in the act of benefiting and providing undue financial favours to private DISCOMS, in the name of poor people, the AAP and
its functionaries are trying to make baseless, false and misleading statements. Now that their scam of helping the DISCOMS to get kickbacks stands exposed, they are trying to some how redeem themselves in the eyes of the people.
The L-G in none of his communication has even suggested, leave apart asking the AAP Government to withdraw subsidies. He has repeatedly asked for subsidy to be given to the poor who are deserving, rather than to private power companies, L-G sources said.
The chief secretary submitted a report to the CM as well as L-G, pointing out that the power department is not following DERC’s statutory advise on subsidies being paid to the DISCOMS. If the DERC directive is followed, it will save the govt `300 Cr. However, the then power minister unilaterally decided not the follow the DERC directive and continued paying the extra `300 crores to DISCOMS, L-G sources added.
Earlier this week, Mr Saxena—in an apparent reference to his relationship with the AAP dispensation that has been aggressively attacking him over a range of issues — had said that the “dignity of speech” was breached in recent times. While alleging that there is conspiracy to stop the power subsidy scheme introduced by his government in Delhi, Mr Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, “Still they say Kejriwal fights a lot.”
“Conspiracies are being hatched to stop (the) free electricity (scheme) in Delhi. But we will not allow their conspiracy to succeed. Kejriwal will be found standing like a rock for the rights of the people of Delhi. L-G saheb, please do not say later that dignities are being breached,” Mr Kejriwal said.