CM says Jung favouring power companies

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday renewed his attack on Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for allegedly favouring the private power distribution companies even as the Raj Niwas dismissed the AAP leader’s claim as false.

In a tweet, Kejriwal said Jung was told by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do what the discoms want – a statement which revived memories of the bitterness between the AAP government and Raj Niwas.

“Modiji is in private power companies’ pocket. Power companies-PM are hand-in-glove. Modiji directed LG to do what the discoms want,” tweeted Kejriwal in Hindi.

The stinging criticism of Jung by Kejriwal also broke the apparent calm that had set upon the corridors of power since the August 4 decision of the Delhi High Court which upheld supremacy in matters of administration related to law, public order and land.

The tweet by Kejriwal came a day after he accused the Lieutenant Governor of allegedly cancelling the AAP government’s order to make discoms pay compensation to consumers for unscheduled power cuts.

The Raj Niwas reacted strongly to the statement of Kejriwal that blamed the LG for trying to cancel the order on power cuts.

“It is unfortunate that factually incorrect and misleading statements are being placed in the public domain,” said the statement.

Pointing to newspaper reports that appeared on Monday, a statement issued by Raj Niwas said the reports quoted the Chief Minister as having said that 15 days ago, the LG called the file pertaining to this matter and cancelled the order.

“This statement is incorrect and misleading,” said the statement issued by the LG’s office.

“The LG’s office has not asked for any specific file. Files have been submitted to the office of the LG by the GNCTD following the High Court’s order dated August 4. All such files, which have come to the LG’s office, are likely to contain Constitutional infirmities,” said the statement.  

The Raj Niwas also quoted the Delhi High Court’s order which said the power department’s June 2015 proceedings on 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”.

It said the proceedings are illegal “since such policy directions cannot be issued without communicating to the LG for his views”.

Jung’s office clarified that the “office of the LG has so far not issued any fresh orders on this issue”.

During a public meeting in Najafgarh, Kejriwal on Sunday said the LG had cancelled the AAP government's order to make discoms pay compensation to consumers for unscheduled power cuts.

He also expressed apprehension that the LG may also turn down the government's power-subsidy decision and minimum wages proposal.

The DERC had in April passed an order, asking power distribution companies to compensate consumers for unscheduled power cuts extending up to two hours in the national capital.

"We had passed an order under which discoms would have to compensate consumers for unscheduled power cuts. They were bound to pay a penalty of Rs 100 for power cut for every hour.