Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta has sent a reply through a legal firm to the notice sent to him by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on the power tariff issue.
Addressing a press conference along with Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly V.K. Malhotra on Saturday, Mr. Gupta reiterated that his party was fighting for reduction in power tariffs ``in the interest of the people of Delhi’’. Stating that the BJP had submitted memoranda to the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant-Governor in the case, Mr. Gupta wondered why the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission was maintaining a stoic silence on the issue.
Claiming that the ``public movement’’ was being carried out by the BJP within the limits prescribed by law, Mr. Gupta said the party would continue with its protests till tariffs were reduced by 20 per cent.
The BJP president charged that the Delhi Government was trying to curb the powers of DERC to fix power tariffs under Section 86 and Section 108 of the Electricity Act. He also claimed that the Solicitor General of India had opined that this interference of the Delhi Government was unconstitutional.
``Even after this, the failure of the DERC to announce new power tariffs shows that the Commission is not announcing the reduced rate under the influence of private power companies or due to the pressure from the Government,’’ he said.
Stating that the Chief Minister was the head of the Power Department, Mr. Gupta again alleged that there was ``connivance’’ with the discoms due to which tariffs were not being reduced and people were getting a ``step motherly’’’ treatment.
Both the leaders said the power distribution companies in Delhi were earning a profit of about Rs.3.5 crore per day and that was a cause of financial burden on the people.
They said the party would not hesitate to go to court in the matter if the need so arises.
