Private power companies in Delhi are in for a tough time if Arvind Kejriwal ends up becoming the Chief Minister of Delhi next week . Speaking exclusively to the India Today Group, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said his party is committed to slashing electricity tariff by 50 per cent, regardless of the consequences .
"Let Tatas and Ambanis leave if they want. We are committed to reducing the power tariff within the first four months of assuming office. There is no shortage of private companies in India. We will find other companies to handle electricity distribution if these companies decide to leave."
Arvind Kejriwal stressed that the government would step in and handle electricity distribution in case no private company was willing to replace BSES and Tata Power. "Private companies cannot blackmail the government and threaten that they will leave if the government doesn't let them continue with their crooked ways. We will put officials from these private companies in jail if they continue being dishonest. We cannot tolerate corruption. If no private company steps forward, the Delhi government will take over electricity distribution."
Kejriwal went to the extent of saying that the citizens of Delhi need not pay their electricity bills till the time the government slashes power tariffs. Kejriwal said, "Those consumers who want to pay their bills can do so and those who do not want to pay their bills need not do so till the time this process is completed. We will order an audit of the accounts of the private power companies and also have an independent agency do an audit of the electricity meters in people's homes. We hope to finish this exercise in four months." (Watch the interview)
Kejriwal's assertions are the worst possible news for the private distribution companies of the capital, which insist that they are deep in the red and have been petitioning the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) for a 2-7 per cent hike in power tariff starting January 1, 2014. Private power companies claim they have aggregated losses of more than Rs 11,000 crore over just the last one year. BSES Rajdhani has sought a 3 per cent hike in power tariff, while Tata Power Delhi sought a 2 per cent hike, and the East Delhi discom BSES Yamuna had sought a 7 per cent hike in tariff from the DERC.
With the prospect of Kejriwal becoming the chief minister looming large, these companies are worried about what the future holds for them. When contacted, officials from both BSES and Tata Power refused to comment on record. However, a spokesperson from Reliance said, on the condition of anonymity, "BSES is already a loss-making proposition. We have already seen what happened in the case of the Airport Metro. We had to leave the Metro project, we may have to leave power distribution as well."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Tata's NDPL said, "If Arvind wants to run the electricity business he is most welcome. It is beyond our understanding how Arvind can claim that he will buy electricity from producers at cheaper prices."
Apart from sounding the warning bell to power companies, Kejriwal said his other big priority would be to investigate the misdeeds of the Sheila Dikshit administration. "After passing the Lokayukta Bill, we will order a probe into all the scams of the Congress government over the last 15 years and of the MCD run by the BJP the last 7 years. All the ministers who are found guilty will be sent to jail. Just because Congress is supporting our government doesn't mean that they will get special concessions."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Tata's NDPL said, "If Arvind wants to run the electricity business he is most welcome. It is beyond our understanding how Arvind can claim that he will buy electricity from producers at cheaper prices."
Apart from sounding the warning bell to power companies, Kejriwal said his other big priority would be to investigate the misdeeds of the Sheila Dikshit administration. "After passing the Lokayukta Bill, we will order a probe into all the scams of the Congress government over the last 15 years and of the MCD run by the BJP the last 7 years. All the ministers who are found guilty will be sent to jail. Just because Congress is supporting our government doesn't mean that they will get special concessions."
Kejriwal also taunted the established political parties, saying that Congress and the BJP do not know how to do politics. "Political parties think that they are laying a trap for us. What they do not know is that we are the ones who will trap them. We are teaching these parties how to do politics. Everything Aam Aadmi Party does these parties want to copy. All they seem to know is how to make money.'
Kejriwal seems to be marching in the direction of assuming office next week. His decision to seek SMS responses from citizens on whether he should form the next government in the capital has come in for criticism from all political parties, which are dismissing his move as a political reality show. But the Aam Aadmi Party leader is unfazed. "Everyone in the country knows that the Congress's track record in supporting minority governments is very bad. Tomorrow they can turn around and say Arvind coughs too much and so we withdraw our support. There was a big divide on whether we should take support from the Congress or not, so we decided to go to the people's court. This is the sort of participative, direct democracy that we hope to practice."
Kejriwal seems to be marching in the direction of assuming office next week. His decision to seek SMS responses from citizens on whether he should form the next government in the capital has come in for criticism from all political parties, which are dismissing his move as a political reality show. But the Aam Aadmi Party leader is unfazed. "Everyone in the country knows that the Congress's track record in supporting minority governments is very bad. Tomorrow they can turn around and say Arvind coughs too much and so we withdraw our support. There was a big divide on whether we should take support from the Congress or not, so we decided to go to the people's court. This is the sort of participative, direct democracy that we hope to practice."
The BJP has been targeting Kejriwal arguing that this referendum style of politics can work in a small country like Switzerland but not in a big country like India. Kejriwal responded to the criticism saying, "There is not much difference between the size of Delhi and Switzerland. This criticism would be valid if we were holding a referendum across the country. We will not go to the people on every issue, but on an issue as important as this, it is critical to know what people think."
Kejriwal acknowledged that the public meetings and the SMS poll is not a very structured way of understanding public opinion but insisted that the 270 meetings would help the Aam Aadmi Party get a sense of the mood among the people of Delhi. Preparations are already on for a special session of the Delhi Assembly being called at the Ramlila Maidan in the beginning of January, where Kejriwal hopes to pass the Janlokpal version of the Lokayukta Bill.
Kejriwal acknowledged that the public meetings and the SMS poll is not a very structured way of understanding public opinion but insisted that the 270 meetings would help the Aam Aadmi Party get a sense of the mood among the people of Delhi. Preparations are already on for a special session of the Delhi Assembly being called at the Ramlila Maidan in the beginning of January, where Kejriwal hopes to pass the Janlokpal version of the Lokayukta Bill.
with thanks : IndiaToday : LINK
