New Delhi:
Congress today accused Delhi BJP of "befooling" people by making "impossible" promises and said the party should hold protests in states ruled by it where power tariffs were higher than in Delhi and supply was erratic.
"BJP is badly scared to take note of the response of people on subsidy. It is not serious on its stand on power tariff and has organised a rally at Ramlila Grounds tomorrow to oppose tariff hikes," Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister and CLP spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said.
He said the power tariff in Delhi was much lower than the rates in all metros, NCR towns and BJP-ruled states.
"BJP leaders should start agitations in (BJP-ruled) Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the rates are double than the rates in Delhi and the citizens are getting power supply for only four to five hours," he said.
"The farmers in Gujarat are fed up with Modi government as their production has gone down drastically due to lack of power supply," he alleged.
He said BJP could only do theatrics and could not provide action plan to address the problems of citizens.
"The promise of reduction in power rates by 30 per cent on gaining majority in Assembly election in Delhi would never be fulfilled as the party is aware of its ensuing defeat, hence it has been making all impossible promises," he said.
Mr Sharma said BJP national president Rajnath Singh should issue statement against Uttar Pradesh government as the power rates have been hiked by 40 per cent in the state.
"It looks like BJP and Samajwadi Party in UP are hand-in-glove and have been befooling people by opposing each other. The BJP leaders in Delhi have no courage to challenge Congress party in Delhi, hence they are organising agitations on flimsy grounds," he said.
The Congress leader said the government would need Rs 500 crore to grant subsidy to people.
"The customers in 201 to 400 units would be charged at the rate of Rs five per unit against Rs 5.80 announced by the DERC and even less than Rs 5.50 rate being levied prior to revision. The consumers would get the reduced bill with effect from August 1," he said.