New Delhi:
Staging protests over the power and water crisis in the national capital, the Congress on Monday gave an ultimatum to the Centre that if the electricity supply was not improved within the next 24 hours, party workers will gherao Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence.
Led by Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, and senior leaders like Jagdish Tytler and Mukesh Sharma, party workers raised slogans and burnt effigies of the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party leaders in Patparganj and Dilshad Garden areas of the city.
A minor clash ensued with the police at NH 24 in Dilshad Garden as workers blocked roads for several minutes, causing traffic jams.
"Congress has given an ultimatum to the Central Government that if the power situation is not improved within the next 24 hours, the party workers will gherao the Prime Minister's residence," Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said.
Mr Lovely accused AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and the BJP of having close ties with power companies.
"Arvind Kejriwal had struck some deal with power companies and that was the reason he was keeping a studied silence on a major issue affecting the people like the power crisis. Congress leaders demand that Mr Kejriwal's deal with power companies be immediately exposed," he said.
"BJP had always maintained a soft corner for power companies and big industries, and that was the reason no penalty has been imposed on power companies till now. There is a huge difference in words and deeds of BJP. Now that the BJP has come to power, it has forgotten all about its promise of giving 30 per cent subsidy in power bills," the DPCC chief said.