Freebies easy to declare, tough to implement: Gadkari on AAP

Taking a dig at AAP for promising free power and water in Delhi, transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said it is easy to declare something in an election campaign but tough to implement the same.

Taking a dig at AAP for promising free power and water in Delhi, transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said it is easy to declare something in an election campaign but tough to implement the same.

Speaking at the ongoing India Today Conclave, Gadkari said, "I think we should give them (Aam Aadmi Party) some time. It will not be appropriate to analyse right now because to give everything free of charge is easy to declare but to implement it is tough."

He was responding to a query on Delhi government's plan to reduce water and electricity charges. AAP-ruled Delhi government, on March 1, had announced slashing power tariff by 50% for consumption up to 400 units per month and 20,000 litres of free water per household every month.

The minister added that both the Centre as well as state governments are facing financial constraints.

"We have financial problems in state and central governments, and in that situation if you start giving water and electricity free of charge, it will be very difficult for the state government," the minister said.

Last month, in an apparent reference to AAP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, "During every election, political parties promise free power. People need to think about these promises." Delhi has a power demand of about 5,000 MW and is largely dependent on other states to meet this requirement.