CLP LEADER HAROON YUSUF AND SENIOR LEADER AND CHIEF SPOKESPERSON MUKESH SHARMA HOLD JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE.

NEW DELHI, June 27—The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) has alleged that Union Power Minister Shri Piyush Goel was making statements in a futile bid to prepare the people of Delhi to pay more for the consumption of power to enable the power companies to derive undue benefits. It said the understanding arrived at between the power companies and the Union Power Minister should be exposed. The party also said the stony silence of Shri Arvind Kejriwal in this matter was pointing a finger at his collusion too. CLP leader Haroon Yusuf and senior leader and DPCC spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said this while addressing a joint press conference at the DPCC office, Rajiv Bhawan, here today. They demanded that the BJP should immediately fulfil its election promise of reducing the power tariff by 30 per cent.

Shri Haroon Yusuf condemned  Union Power Minister Piyush Goel’s statement that it would take at least two years to totally end power cuts in Delhi, and if proper supply has to be ensured, it was imperative to hike the power tariff. He said there was a big gap in the words and deeds of the BJP, and the BJP was now trying to run away from its promises made to the people of Delhi. Shri Yusuf made it clear that during the Congress rule in Delhi, people were getting 24-hour power supply, but now, people are being forced to spend their days and nights on the streets due to persistent power cuts. Shri Yusuf said the escalation in the prices of sugar and  vegetables proved that the bad days of the people of Delhi have begun under the BJP rule.

Shri Mukesh Sharma alleged that the Union Power Minister  had deliberately issued this statement to force the DERC to hike the power tariff. It may be recalled that the DERC would be taking a decision on power tariff hike only after evaluating  its interaction with the public on the issue. He said during the Congress rule, when the DERC held a public hearing, BJP leader  Vijay Goel and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, who were present a the hearing, not only shed crocodile tears, but also created a big drama. Shri Sharma asked why did not the  BJP and AAP leaders  attend DERC’s public hearing this time.  He alleged that the manner in which the Union Power Minister was championing the cause of the power companies for hiking the power tariff showed that the power companies were in league with the BJP leaders, and the silence of Arvind Kejriwal in this matter indicates that he has also struck deals with the power companies. He said even now, people were fed up with regular power cuts, and in a place like Bindapur, there was a long power cut today.

Shri Haroon Yusuf and Shri Mukesh Sharma, making a direct attack on the BJP, said that in view of the  State Assembly elections slated to be held in October-November this year, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had stated that there would be no hike in the cooking gas prices till September. Both the leaders wanted to know how much the cooking gas prices would be increased after September and that should be made public.  They said the Central Government has been taking political decisions with an eye on the Assembly elections, as it had no concern for the people of Delhi and the country. The Congress leaders said the BJP should fulfil its election promises made to the people without delay.