Terming the hike in power tariff as 'backstabbing the people', the state BJP demanded an immediate roll back from the SP government. It also cautioned that a massive stir would be launched if the government persisted with its stubborn attitude.
State BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak told media persons on Monday that the SP government in cahoots with the State Electricity Regulatory Authority (SERA) has betrayed the faith of people by effecting tariff hike in the most irrational and partisan ways.
" The government departments having overwhelming dues of Rs 9000 crore have been kept untouched from the hike and same has been applied to the industrial sectors," he pointed out. The urabn and rural populace have been subjected to tariff hike of 35 and 45 percent respectively which is absolutely unjustified," he added.
Pathak said that instead of trying to improve the basics of the power sector, the SP government was burdening the general consumers who are already under constant financial duress.
" If the state government remains admant in its stand and refuses to roll back the hike, the BJP will not only launch a massive protest against it but will extend support to other agitating groups and outfits," stressed Pathak