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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Activists say subsidy waste of public money

Activists say subsidy waste of public money

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published Published on Jan 1, 2014   modified Modified on Jan 1, 2014
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Opposition parties and activists who have been campaigning against private discoms and tariff hikes slammed the government's decision to increase the subsidy on power consumption on Tuesday. While BJP criticized the move, Congress said it is analyzing the implications of the subsidy announcement.

BJP said money meant for welfare schemes would be spent on the increased subsidy. "He is giving subsidy to people at the cost of taxpayers' money which is meant for the implementation of welfare schemes," said Harsh Vardhan, leader of the opposition in Delhi assembly. "Governments do not run on populist measures alone. This will hurt Delhi in the future," he added.

The government's 50% subsidy will benefit about 28 lakh households. However, Harsh Vardhan said the government should have forced the discoms to lower tariff instead. "Kejriwal is resorting to gimmicks such as this to fulfill his political ambitions," said another BJP leader.

"What AAP is doing is nothing but fraud," said Atul Goyal from Urja, a group that has been campaigning against discoms. "Subsidy was already available to consumers for consumption till 400 units. They are taking taxpayers' money for their own benefit. They should have waited for the outcome of the CAG audit and then acted. What is the hurry to announce another subsidy?''

"We are against the whole concept of a subsidy. They are just adding more to the discoms' accounts,'' added Saurabh Gandhi from Maharana Pratap Bagh RWA.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh said his party would hold a press conference after studying the AAP decision in detail. "We will not comment now but come out with the facts of the matter in a detailed press brief,'' he said.

Former chief minister Sheila Dikshit said the steps taken by the AAP government present a "confusing picture". She said Kejriwal is "definitely trying to fulfill the promises AAP has made in its manifestos but only time will tell. Let's see how he does it". About the demand for a CAG audit of the discoms, she said, "That's probably why he has gone to CAG. He doesn't want the companies to audit, he wants to do it. If CAG agrees, then it's well and good".

TATA power Delhi CEO Praveer Sinha said the subsidy is a good move to benefit people but did not comment on the proposed CAG audit. CEOs of the other discoms also chose to keep mum till Wednesday.


The Times of India, 1 January, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Activists-say-subsidy-waste-of-public-money/articleshow/28205892.cms


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