Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has requested the Vasundhara Raje government to remove his photograph from the covers of millions of CFL bulbs and distribute them among the people.
In his last budget as Chief Minister, Mr. Gehlot promised power-saving CFL bulbs to the domestic power users across the State.
However, before the entire lot of 1.25 crore bulbs could be distributed, the BJP government came to power. Now there are half a million CFL bulbs lying in the storehouses of government offices as officials stopped the distribution process after a change in the regime.
One of the options being considered is getting new covers for the CFLs and continue with the distribution.
“I request the government to remove my photograph and distribute the remaining CFLs,” said Mr. Gehlot on the sidelines of a Congress sevadal event here on Sunday.
The CFLs were procured for Rs. 107 each, which pegs the remaining 5,00,000 CFLs at over Rs. 5 crore.
“It was not a random scheme but was announced in the budget...over 90 per cent CFLs have been distributed and power savings worth Rs.278 crore have accrued to domestic users,” said Mr. Gehlot.
‘No rift in party’ On an unrelated note, Mr. Gehlot re-affirmed that the Congress stood united after its defeat in the Assembly elections. “The Congress is united and the media is blowing small incidents out of proportion...we have only 21 MLAs but that doesn’t mean there is any dearth of things we have to say,” said Mr. Gehlot.
