Atishi Critiques Delhi Government for Power Interruptions, BJP Labels it a 'Political Stunt'
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Synopsis
On March 31, Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi criticized the BJP government for long power outages, which the BJP dismissed as a political stunt, accusing the AAP government of corruption in the power sector.
Key Takeaways
- Atishi criticized the BJP for rising power cuts.
- BJP dismissed the claims as a political maneuver.
- Atishi highlighted improvements made under AAP leadership.
- BJP President Sachdeva attributed power supply improvements to earlier investments.
- Delhi's power supply issues were linked to previous governance.
New Delhi, March 31 (NationPress) Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi criticized the BJP government on Monday for purportedly lengthy power cuts, a claim that the ruling party dismissed as a mere 'political stunt.' They also accused the prior AAP administration of corruption in the electricity sector.
During a press conference, Atishi stated, "Before the AAP government assumed power, extended power outages were typical in the capital."
"Every household relied on inverters. However, after Arvind Kejriwal took office as Chief Minister of Delhi in February 2015, power cuts became a thing of the past," she continued.
“Now, following the BJP's ascension to government in the city, power outages are increasing,” Atishi asserted.
"How is it possible that over a decade saw no outages, but within a month of BJP governance, power cuts are returning? This indicates one thing: the BJP is incapable of effectively governing. They lack both the intent and the ability to assist the residents of Delhi," she remarked.
In response, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva claimed that Atishi often highlights the advancements in the city's power supply network as a success of the previous AAP government, yet it is regrettable that the Kejriwal administration, from 2015 to 2025, was embroiled in corruption disguised as improved electricity supply.
He noted that the improvement in Delhi's power supply can be attributed to the investments approved by former Union Minister Arun Jaitley, who presented the Delhi budget during President’s rule in 2014.
Sachdeva pointed out that residents of Delhi clearly recall Jaitley’s budget address, which discussed the dire state of the city’s electricity supply and stressed the need for infrastructure investment. The Central government allocated Rs 675 crore for new power plants and Rs 200 crore for enhancing power transformers and wiring in Delhi.
Sachdeva emphasized that not only Delhi but several cities under BJP governance enjoy continuous electricity supply.
BJP-governed cities like Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bangalore, and others already have uninterrupted power supply, he noted.
He also mentioned that Uttar Pradesh, previously regarded as a state with inadequate electricity generation and distribution until 2017-18, now enjoys robust power supply.
Sachdeva stated that BJP officials do not boast about reliable electricity in their states because providing 24-hour power is a governmental responsibility, not a courtesy to the public.
He added that besides Jaitley’s contributions to Delhi, private companies involved in power distribution also played a role in enhancing electricity production and supply.
The Delhi BJP President further questioned Atishi, asking whether it is true that while promoting 24-hour electricity in Delhi, the Kejriwal government colluded with private firms to engage in electricity subsidy and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) scams.
