AAP to launch massive protest against power tariff in MP

The proposal is to raise power tariff by up to 25%

Madhya Pradesh unit of Aam Aadmi Party will launch a massive protest against proposed power tariff hike. The party would launch protest against the proposed hike from March 19. State power distribution companies have proposed to raise power tariff by up to 25%. "We will launch the protest since it would touch an exorbitant limit. Our government in Delhi has slashed power tariff by almost half and power is available at Rs 2.25 per unit, why cannot Madhya Pradesh government offer power at cheaper rates," Akshay Hunka, Aap party's spokesperson said.

The party would organise protest rallies across the state, primarily at district level till March 28 and later it would intensify its protest further. The protest would culminate in a massive rally in Bhopal on 12 April. "There are three issues which we want to raise; they discom companies have 12000 million unit surplus power yet they sell the surplus power but do not reduce the tariff, they have shown a revenue loss of Rs 1700 crore which should not be recovered from commoner's pocket and the power should be made available to commoners at affordable rates," said Hunka.

Aap party's senior leader Alok Agrawal also said power tariff should be reduced by at least 25 percent rather than increasing it. "If they increase power tariff for another time they will reach to an exorbitant limit for commoner. Already power tariff are not less than Rs 5.50 per unit. We will submit a memorandum on 12 April to state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan," Agrawal said.