AAP demands rollback of power tariff hike

Bengaluru: Lambasting the State government over the electricity tariff hike, the Aam Aadmi Party has accused the ruling BJP of piling on woes of the people instead of ameliorating their burden brought on by the Covid pandemic.

"Chief Minister Yeddyurappa is behaving insensitively by increasing electricity tariffs," AAP stated.

State convener of the party Prithvi Reddy on Sunday threatened that AAP would launch a protest if the BJP government failed to rollback the power tariff.

The AAP gave the slogan "Reduce the electricity bill or leave Karnataka governance."

Prithvi Reddy launched "Shock Bedaa", an app for people to upload their last month's electricity bill as well that of November after hike came into force.

"They can compare this with the amount that a resident of AAP-ruled Delhi pays for the consumption of same amount of power," he said.

Calling upon people not to pay their power bills unless the hike was withdrawn, Mr Reddy said he would go and reconnect power supply if BESCOM staff disconnect the supply to any household without worrying about the consequences. The volunteers of Aam Aadmi Party would visit door-to-door and tell people about the 'atrocities' and 'corruption' of the Yedyurappa-led BJP government and previous governments.

"All the parties, BJP, Congress and JD(S) have not taken any action to address power leakage and theft. They have always put the burden on common man by increasing the tariff every now and then. The government should withdraw their unscientific power tariff hike with immediate effect," he demanded.

Bangalore unit AAP president Mohan Dasari, vice president Suresh Rathod, State media wing head Jagdish V Sadam, chief spokesperson Sharat Khadri and leaders Prakash Nedugundi, Shashavali and Jyothish were also present at the press conference.