AAP protest against power tariff hike

NEW DELHI: Protesting against the hike in the electricity tariff, AAP today began silent protests and resorted to putting out posters, criticising the decision.

Party has put out posters at several places across the national capital, lashing out at the decision and ridiculing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal has also demanded that tariffs should be brought down by 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, in a meeting of AAP MLAs today, it was decided to oppose the power tariff hike. "We will oppose the decision of hike in the electricity tariff tooth and nail," AAP MLA Surinder Singh today said after the meeting.

"The hike comes at a time when the people of Delhi are already facing acute hardships due to steep price rise, especially in LPG, diesel, petrol and food commodities like onions and tomatoes."

"The BJP has failed to deliver on its manifesto promise of reducing the electricity tariff by 30 per cent, and has instead raised the electricity tariff by 8.32 per cent. The citizens of Delhi feel cheated by yet another U-turn by this government," AAP said in a statement.

Power tariff in Delhi was today hiked by up to 7.5 per cent for domestic consumers but power bills of 80 per cent consumers will come down as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission withdrew a surcharge of up to 8 per cent for next three months.

For commercial consumers, DERC hiked the power rates by up to 11 per cent.