Kejriwal challenges Dikshit to an open debate on inflated bills

On the seventh day of his indefinite fast, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday dared chief minister Sheila Dikshit for an open debate "anywhere, anytime" on the issue of inflated power bills due to corruption. HT reports.

On the seventh day of his indefinite fast, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday dared chief minister Sheila Dikshit for an open debate "anywhere, anytime" on the issue of inflated power bills due to corruption.

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"Dikshit has claimed that people can't use 24-hour power supply and pay only for eight hours. I am ready for a debate with her in front of all the people of Delhi, anywhere, anytime. We have documents which show how Dikshit's claim is false and misleading," Kejriwal told his supporters at Sundar Nagari in northeast Delhi.

With an eye on assembly elections later this year, AAP has launched a civil disobedience movement. Kejriwal has been on fast since March 23 against "inflated water and power bills due to corruption".

His health parameters showed a slight variation, but were well within the range. "Kejriwal's blood pressure was 108/66, pulse 67, sugar 123 and weight 59. Ketones level has come down from 3+ yesterday to 2+," an AAP statement said.

Meanwhile, even as the number of Delhiites pledging not to pay power and water bills touched 3.75 lakh till Thursday, scores of prominent people expressed their support to the agitation. "We urge the Delhi government and other public authorities to take note of the irregularities brought to notice by this movement and take urgent action," 97-year-old Justice Krishna Iyer, former Naval chiefs Admiral L Ramdas and Admiral RS Tahiliani, JM Lyngdoh (former chief election commissioner), activist Dr Binayak Sen and Amit Bhaduri (emeritus professor, JNU) said in a joint statement.

Late at night, Anna Hazare visited Kejriwal at the fast venue.