AAP to raise discoms audit issue in Parliament

NEW DELHI: Alleging that the private power distribution companies in the national capital are trying to scuttle the audit of their accounts by the CAG, the Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) today said it will raise the issue in the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.

"The AAP is of the clear view that the absence of an elected government in Delhi is being used as an excuse to quietly push anti-people decisions like the imminent electricity tariff hike, for which nobody will take the responsibility.

"It is the duty of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, which is currently controlling the Delhi administration, to direct the officials concerned to firmly deal with the discoms, which have now made it a habit to take the people for a ride," the party said in a statement.

The party said that it will raise the issue in Parliament as the budget of Delhi will also be presented there.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Shashi Kant Sharma, in a letter to Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung, has criticised the ineffective role of three top Delhi government officials in facilitating the audit of three discoms.

The party has also demanded that the Union Power Ministry should issue clear directions that in case the discoms create hurdles in the scrutiny of their account books by the CAG, their licences will be promptly cancelled.

AAP's parliamentary party leader Dharamvira Gandhi had mentioned the issue in the all-party meeting, which was convened by parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu, the party said.