BJP CONDEMNS THREEFOLD HIKE IN POWER COSTS

The Bharatiya Janata Party has condemned the three-fold hike in the electricity rates in Delhi and accused the previous government led by the Aam Aadmi Party of “cheating” the people of Delhi.

The electricity rates will be hiked sharply from 1 April as the Central government has not announced a subsidy in the interim budget for Delhi, which is currently under President’s Rule. Subsidy granted by the AAP government will last only till 31 March. The resulting outcome will be a sharp increase in the electricity bills of millions of people, who consume below 400 units power. “The 49 day AAP government misled the people of Delhi. In spite of objections raised by various departments and without taking the approval of the Centre, the AAP government made a hasty announcement to decrease power tariff,” said Delhi BJP President Harsh Vardhan.

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, while presenting the vote on accounts of Delhi government in Parliament, announced that there will not be any subsidy on power tariff from 1 April. After this announcement, consumers will be charged at Rs 7 per unit from the next financial year.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had slashed electricity tariff by 50% slash for consumers whose usage was below 400 units. This was done by paying a subsidy of Rs 372 cr per month to the power companies.

However, the AAP expressed shock over the Central government’s decision to ignore the proposal of its government to continue the relief provided to residents of Delhi. Calling it a “match-fixing” between the Congress and BJP, the AAP accused them of deliberately increasing the woes of the aam aadmi.