Claiming that their stand on power supplying companies has been vindicated by the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) draft report, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanded “legal action” against the three power distribution companies in the National Capital for alleged discrepancies in the power tariff on Tuesday.
While addressing a press conference, party leaders urged the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to cancel the request of increasing the tariff of these companies.
“From the beginning the AAP had raised these issues and now it has been proved by the CAG’s report that these private power distributors have looted the common man in Delhi. We demand criminal action against the power discoms. They (the owners) should be sent behind the bars,” AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai said. He urged the Government to approach High Court to ensure the CAG report was made public.
“The people of Delhi should also know how they have been looted and who all have played a role in this scam.The AAP will fulfill its promise of giving back this huge sum of money that they have been looted of,” he added.
The CAG report has indicted inefficiency, mismanagement and gross exaggeration of the regulatory assets of Delhi’s three power distribution companies, BYPl, BRPl and Tata Power Delhi.
Accused the companies of fudging their account books, the AAP had ordered a CAG audit on the companies when it first came to power in Delhi in 2013.
AAP legislator Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP and Congress of shielding the owners of these companies. “These companies belonged to big shots like Ambanis’ and Tatas’ that have been close to both BJP and the Congress, so they were always protected but the AAP was of the opinion to bring these power distribution companies under audit. This report has proved our concerns were real,” he said.
Sharing with the reporters about the steps which would be taken, Bajpai said AAP had promised that the people of Delhi would be funded back wherever the corruption of this kind is proved and it stands by its word.
“Initially, when we said discoms should be audited, political parties laugh at us saying that we should read the law. Now the preliminary findings of the report have proved we were right. However, the full CAG report is out. This scam shall be investigated legally where criminal case and FIRs would be filed. Then, the Government will give the money back to the
people through subsidies,” he further added.