Modi working in tandem with power discoms: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of working in tandem with the power discoms to benefit them.

"Modiji is in the pockets of power companies. He is working in tandem with the power companies. Modi called Lt Governor on phone and asked him to do as they (power discoms) say," Kejriwal tweeted.

He accused the Prime Minister of trying to implement an increased power tariff in Delhi as in Gujarat.

"Cost of 200 units and 400 units of electricity in Delhi is Rs 550 and Rs 1,200, respectively, whereas in Gujarat it is Rs 1,100 and Rs 2,300, respectively. Now Modiji wants Delhi rates also to be equal to Gujarat," Kejriwal said in another tweet.

Also on Sunday, Kejriwal while speaking at a gathering in Najafgarh said that Lt Governor Najeeb Jung cancelled his government's order to make discoms pay compensation for unscheduled power cuts.

However, the Lt Governor's office on Monday refuted Kejriwal's claim.

In a statement, the LG office said that Kejriwal's remark regarding LG office asking for power discoms file and cancelling the order is "incorrect and misleading".

"The Lt. Governor's office has not asked for any specific file and has so far not issued any fresh orders on this issue. Files have been submitted to the office of the Lt. Governor by the government following the High Court's order," LG office said in an official statement.

It further said that the files, which have come to the LG office, are likely to contain constitutional infirmities.

The LG office also quoted the high court's order on the matter, which said: "The proceedings of the Delhi Government, Department of Power, issuing policy directions to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission regarding disruption in electricity supply to consumers and compensation payable in respect thereof are illegal and unconstitutional since such policy directions cannot be issued without communicating to the Lt Governor of Delhi for his views."

--IANS

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