JOIN USBJP workers burn CM's effigies, block traffic
Thousands of BJP workers on Friday staged demonstrations at 25 prominent places across the national capital to express anger against increased power tariff.
While no violence was reported, the agitated workers burnt effigies of chief minister Sheila Dikshit and raised anti-government slogans. They even locked the power office at Dilshad Garden.
BJP Delhi pradesh president Vijender Gupta and leader of opposition in Delhi Legislative Assembly Vijay Kumar Malhotra led a dharna at the office of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).
A delegation under the leadership of Gupta asked chairman of DERC P D Sudhakar about the justification of increasing power tariff. It was also asked that when audit of the power companies has not been completed for 2011-12 then on what ground the power tariff was hiked.
“Sudhakar could not give a satisfactory reply,” said Gupta. The BJP also condemns CM’s recent statement that the hike will not be rolled back, he added. This is a despotic step, Gupta said.
Malhotra said by increasing power tariff for the fourth time in last 10 months, government and DERC have turned the privatisation of power into commercialisation of power.
“The city government is exploiting the people and benefiting Tata and Reliance companies. People of Delhi are not going to forgive government,” Malhotra said.
The agitation against power tariff hike will continue, he added. Malhotra also demanded the revision of power tariff.
The Bharatiya Janata Party will soon call a meeting of all resident welfare associations of Delhi and form a strategy against the electricity commission as well as the government, he said.
Effigies were burnt in many areas across the city. Women and local citizens participated in large numbers in these demonstrations and raised slogans demanding withdrawal of power tariff hike.
Traffic was blocked at DC Chowk, Sec-9, Rohini and GT Karnal road by the protesters.