A week after sending the shock waves to Punjab’s traditional political parties by inducting Punjab police former IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh in the party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be on second visit to the state — this time to promise “free power” if his party wins the 2022 Assembly elections.
The visit of Kejriwal, likely to promise free 200 units of power for every household in Punjab as is being done in Delhi, comes at a time when the Congress high command has asked Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to ensure free 200 units of power, especially in urban areas, for every household in the State.
The visit also assumes significance as currently, the farmers are up in arms against the Congress Government in Punjab as they are not getting the required eight-hour power supply during the paddy sowing season, which started on June 10.
Even though the Chief Minister had issued strict instructions to ensure eight hours of uninterrupted power supply, the situation remained the same.
Besides, to explore the possibility of providing 200 power units free to every household in Punjab, the state Power Department’s senior officials have also been holding brainstorming sessions, mainly to discuss the financial implications of the same.
Sources have informed The Pioneer that such a move may inflict a massive financial burden, estimated to be around Rs 6,000 crore, on the state exchequer, with many senior officials expressing their uncertainties over taking such a decision.
Taking to Twitter on Monday morning, Kejriwal, in Punjabi, tweeted that it was very difficult for a woman to run her household amidst rising prices. “In Delhi, we provide 200 units of free electricity to every family. The women are very happy…Women in Punjab are also very unhappy with inflation. The AAP government will also provide free electricity in Punjab….See you in Chandigarh tomorrow,” he added.
Notably, the power sector reforms initiated by the Kejriwal-led Delhi Government have paid handsome dividends for the incumbent AAP in the elections. Under the free electricity scheme in the national capital, around 48 lakh beneficiaries (read domestic consumers) can avail up to 200 units of free electricity. Besides, those consuming electricity between 201 units and 400 units are eligible to avail 50 percent subsidy on the bills.
“Kejriwal will pay a one-day visit to Chandigarh on Tuesday. He will interact with the media to make big announcements about Punjab,” said AAP’s Punjab unit president Bhagwant Mann.
He said that Kejriwal would also announce facilities for the people of Punjab on the lines of unlimited facilities being provided to the people of Delhi. Kejriwal could also promise to provide free electricity to the people of Punjab and to save them from the costly electricity at present, he added.
“The Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress Government of Punjab has failed to provide facilities to the people due to which every section is feeling cheated. At present, paddy sowing is in full swing but due to non-availability of electricity to the farmers, they are not sowing their paddy properly. Kejriwal will also present his formula for overcoming the power crisis in Punjab,” he added.
Earlier during his Amritsar visit on June 21, Kejriwal had announced that the party’s chief ministerial candidate for 2022 elections will be from the Sikh community.
AAP, in 2017 Punjab polls, won 20 seats in 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly, grabbing the position of principal opposition party from the SAD-BJP combine.
AAP ALLEGES GOVT OF DENYING PERMISSION TO HOLD PC, CAPT OFFERS TO HOST LUNCH
AAP on Monday accused the Congress-led Punjab Government of denying its national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the permission to hold a press conference in Chandigarh's Punjab Bhawan — a charge vehemently denied by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
Refuting the allegations, Capt Amarinder called it a “drama and even took a potshot at his Delhi counterpart by saying, “If he (Kejriwal) wants, I’d be happy to arrange his lunch too."
Capt Amarinder’s response came hours after AAP’s Punjab party affairs’ co-in-charge Raghav Chadha claimed that Punjab Chief Minister’s Office has denied AAP the permission to hold a press conference at a pre-decided venue.
Stating that Kejriwal will make a “mega announcement" in Chandigarh on Tuesday, Chadha tweeted, “@capt_amarinder’s fear of Kejriwal has reached a point where his office has denied us permission to hold press conference at the pre-decided venue. Nevertheless, @ArvindKejriwal will make a mega announcement tomo in Chandigarh which will send 440volt current to Capt & his party.”
Dismissing the accusation, Capt Amarinder asked why would the State Government stop Kejriwal from holding a press conference when he was allowed to hold a party programme a few days back — referring to Kejriwal’s June 21 visit to Amritsar. “Totally not true. We let Arvind Kejriwal address a rally here just a few days back. So why should we stop him now from holding a press conference? If he wants I’d be happy to arrange his lunch too.
Aam Aadmi Party just wants to do drama even if it means lying,” tweeted The Chief Minister’s media advisor Raveen Thukral, quoting Capt Amarinder.
The party is now organizing the media briefing at Chandigarh Press Club, while it had initially decided to hold at Punjab Bhawan.