BJP protests power tariff hike in Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday protested against the recent increase in power tariff in Delhi and demanded that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital roll-back the hike.

The protest was led by Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay who told IANS that his party wanted the Delhi government to roll back the tariff hike which, he said, would unnecessarily burden residents of the city.

"We want the recent power tariff hike of six percent to be rolled back. The AAP government must take concrete steps in this connection," he told IANS.

"This protest is against the Arvind Kejriwal government which has completely failed to fulfil the promises made to the people of Delhi. It is a government of complete failure," he said.

"The morality and ideology with which they came to power stands exposed," he added.

With slogans against the Delhi government renting the air, the protestors headed towards the Delhi Secretariat from ITO when police personnel deployed there used water cannons and stopped them from marching ahead.

"Police used water cannons to stop us. We just want to convey that increase in the power tariff would bring more burden on the pockets of the residents of Delhi. We want it to be taken back," Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Delhi BJP's media cell convenor, told IANS.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) last week approved a tariff hike of up to six percent for the three distribution companies operating in the national capital.

The hike, which came into effect from June 15, will be applicable for the next three quarters.

In another protest, Tughlakabad residents led by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri staged a protest outside Delhi Jal Board South-IV office in Okhla to protest poor water supply in the area.

The protestors demanded regular water supply in Tughlakabad area.