Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday said that the electricity distribution companies and the regulator had a “nexus” leading to higher power tariffs.
Mr.Nirupam and Priya Datt, another Congress MP from Mumbai, had staged a protest in Mumbai demanding reduction in power tariff rates earlier this week.
“There are some surcharges levied by the Reliance in Mumbai which are baseless. We have demanded that these surcharges be removed from power bills otherwise there will be an agitation after January 20” said Mr.Nirupam who also criticized the policy of recruiting retired bureaucrats as the head of regulatory bodies.
The MP also demanded that “efficient and serving “bureaucrats be appointed as the head of regulatory tribunals “to prevent corruption” in these bodies.
When asked whether the agitation against higher power tariff was inspired by the Aam Admi Party (AAP), Mr.Nirupam claimed that the Congress party had been fighting for the cause of people since independence.
“We cannot stop raising an issue because of election time and as far as the AAP is concerned, it is a regional party limited to Delhi” added Mr. Nirupam.
The MP from North Mumbai constituency also said that if the Congress party had to decide on its prime ministerial candidate it would be the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
“Except 2009, we have fought elections without projecting anyone as the PM nominee but the Congress President declared after the assembly elections last year that the party’s PM candidate will be declared at an appropriate time. We have been demanding that Rahulji should be declared as the PM candidate but it’s up to the senior party leaders to decide” stated Mr. Nirupam.
On the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi being endorsed by Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi, Mr. Nirupam pointed out that the celebrities were paid for such functions.
“So it’s obvious for these celebrities to praise the leaders who have invited them and paid them” said Mr. Nirupam, adding, “The BJP has no presence in south India except Karnataka and even the AAP has its party units in only 300 district of the country. It’s only the Congress which has nationwide presence which has reflected in every election”.
The MP also claimed that his party had been “unnecessarily” blamed for some policy decisions.
“We should have taken other parties into confidence while taking the decisions like the cap on LPG cylinders. Strict economic management is needed but the common man’s concerns should also be taken into account” added Mr. Nirupam.
