Dikshit mocks Kejriwal on power bills

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Friday took a jibe at Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal for his agitation against "inflated" power bills, by saying that people who use air-conditioners would have to pay high tariff.

"In the last few years, the sale of generators has declined in Delhi and the sale of ACs (air-conditioners) has risen sharply. If you use an AC, you will have to pay its electricity bill. But Kejriwal does not talk about that," Diskhit said.

"His (Kejriwal) power was cut as he did not pay his bill," chuckled Diskhit while speaking at a seminar 'Delhi: Kal, Aaj Aur Kal' (yesterday, today and tomorrow) organised by the Associate Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

Kejriwal Thursday accused the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (UPPCL) of disconnecting the electricity connection of his house in Kaushambi in Ghaziabad district, near Delhi, for non-payment of his electricity bill. The power utility denied the allegation, saying that it neither cut Kejriwal's power connection nor restored it.

In March, Kejriwal had launched a massive agitation against Dikshit's government in Delhi, alleging that it helped private power companies by increasing the power tariff.

He raked up a controversy recently by putting up posters on auto-rickshaws calling the chief minister corrupt and warning people that rapes in Delhi would continue if she was voted to power again.

An unperturbed Dikshit said that with elections around the corner, allegations and accusations are bound to take place.

"This is the beauty of democracy," she said.