Congress, AAP lash out at BJP over power hike in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Congress and Aam Aadmi party today slammed the BJP for the power tariff hike in the national capital, even as the BJP said it will take up the issue with the Union Power Minister.

"BJP strongly condemns the Power Purchase Surcharge allowed by DERC. Delhi BJP has all along opposed this surcharge. DERC stands exposed as standing with discoms and working against consumers.

"We will raise this before the Union Power Minister and Delhi Lt Governor to stall the implementation of this hike," Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said.

However, the Aam Aadmi Party said the Centre should have strongly conveyed its reservations over the hike.

"The Aam Aadmi Party feels that the central government should have strongly conveyed its reservation to the DERC on the issue and should have advised the DERC against hiking the tariff.

"We want to ask the Centre and the DERC what has changed since July, when they had put the surcharge on hold," the party said, promising to cut the electricity tariff by half when it comes to power.

The Congress also criticised the BJP and said it will launch an agitation against it and DERC for the electricity hike.

"Congress strongly condemns the hike in power tariff and demands its rollback. We will launch a series of protest against the DERC and BJP, which is trying to benefit discoms.

"I will sit on indefinite hunger strike at Mohan Garden Piple Chowk from tomorrow. I will not break my hunger strike till DERC rolls back power tariff hike," Congress DPCC chief spokesperson and senior leader Mukesh Sharma said.

Power tariff in the national capital was tonight hiked by up to seven per cent by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and will come into effect from Saturday.

The regulator hiked the tariff by levying surcharge heeding to the demands of the three private power distribution companies.