In a startling revelation, Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan termed industrialists as `bijli chor’ and clarified that those pilfering power have no right to ask for subsidies from the government.
“What subsidies you are talking about IJ” Khan said while intervening during Question Hour when Satish Mahana (BJP) asked about the government policy to attract investments in Uttar Pradesh and the subsidies being offered to the industrialists.
“It is unfortunate that the industrialists pilfer power. They get concessions on diesel and coal, yet they engage in power theft,” Khan said.
A shocked Mahana questioned again: “Are you saying that industrialists are bijli chor.” To this, Khan answered in the affirmative saying : “Yes, they are.”
BJP member from Nodia, Vimla Botham contested the minister’s charge saying that not a single industrial unit in Gautam Buddha Nagar district (Noida) was involved in such illegal practises. The minister reparteed saying, “Mera muh na khulwaaiye (Please do not force me to speak).”
Earlier, Dairy Development minister Rammurti Verma claimed that since Samajwadi Party came to power, a total of 1,58,229 industrial units have been set up with an investment of Rs 24,368 crores which has directly employed over 12 lakh people and ensured indirect employment to 24 lakh.
To another question, Animal Husbandry minister Raj Kishore Singh said that 222 new dairies have been set up in UP after the launch of ‘Kaam Dhenu scheme’ giving employment to 10,362 people.
He said that the production of milk has increased by 7.20 lakh meteric tonnes and the state’s milk production capacity is set to cross 25 million meteric tonne by 2017. At present the production is 22 lakh meteric tonne.