New Delhi:
The opposition BJP has slammed
Arvind Kejriwal's 10-month power waiver to people who haven't paid their bills since March last year, calling it anarchist.
In a controversial move, the Delhi Chief Minister yesterday announced exemption for people who had defaulted on their electricity bills and withdrawal of cases against those booked for power theft since March 23 last year.
"People who haven't paid their electricity bills after March 23 last year will be considered and if there are charges of power theft against them, that will be forgiven," he said.
Mr Kejriwal had made the announcement while launching his campaign against private power firms in the national capital who now face an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
"The move will spread anarchy," Harsh Vardhan, who was the BJP's chief ministerial candidate against Mr Kejriwal, said.
"What if we ask people not to pay their power bills?" Mr Vardhan said, adding, "Shouting slogans and governance are two different things."
With national elections due by May, political parties are trying to trump each other in issuing populist policies and promises. The BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, earlier this week promised a re-think on taxation laws, with the party later withdrawing the proposal.