The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday sounded the poll bugle for the Assembly election in Punjab due early next year by announcing up to 300 units of free electricity to every household, if the party formed the next government.
At a press conference here, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: “I believe as per our calculation, the electricity bill for around 77% to 80% households will be ‘zero’.”
The AAP supremo also announced that all old and pending domestic bills would be waived and connection to all those that had been cut would be restored, so that people could live a dignified life. “Punjab has surplus electricity, yet there are frequent cuts. There is deficient power for agriculture. We will ensure that electricity is supplied 24 hours.
“Electricity is a very big issue in Punjab and the situation is very bad. Despite being a power-surplus State, the tariffs are the highest in India,” he said, and attributed it to a nexus between the private power plants and those in power, who from time to time had looted the people.
Personal guarantee
Mr. Kejriwal offered personal guarantee to fulfil all promises. “As soon as we form the government, we will implement the decision of 300-unit free electricity. Also, we will waive the pending domestic electricity bills straight away. As far as the promise of providing 24 hours supply, it will take some time. I assure you that between 3-4 years, it will be done. The agriculture sector will continue to get free power, he said.
Hitting out at the ruling Congress, Mr. Kejriwal said: “These are not promises of Captain, but Kejriwal’s guarantee,” he said, in a veiled attack on Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
“The disconnected electricity connections will be restored and all domestic arrears or unpaid bills will also be waived off. All existing schemes will continue.”
Responding to questions, Mr. Kejriwal said ‘mafia’ rule was rampant in Punjab including sand, mining, drugs, liquor, and transport among others. “There was no shortage of revenue, but it was being siphoned off by the political leaders.” He said the AAP government will give facilities to the poor people by eliminating the mafia and generating revenue.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) accused the AAP of planning to do away with the 200-unit per month free power provided to the poor including Dalits and BCs by former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Senior leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Daljit Singh Cheema said the Delhi Chief Minister had clearly admitted that the party’s promise of 300 units per bill cycle free power facility would be applicable only in case the consumption was less than 300 units.
A cruel joke
“Kejriwal when questioned admitted that in case the consumption was more than 300 units, consumers would have to pay the entire bill and would not get any subsidy at all. This amounts to playing a cruel joke on Punjabis as a majority of them will not be eligible for any benefit. Instead the poor and disadvantaged will lose out on the 200 unit free power facility,” said the leaders.
Later, Mr. Kejriwal in a statement said all the existing beneficiary categories which were getting 200 free units per month like SCs, BCs, BPL families, freedom fighters etc, will now get 300 free units per month. They would be charged only for over and above 300 units per month.
