Kejriwal continues fast, party claims over 5 lakh won't pay inflated bills

Buoyed by a late-night visit by his mentor Anna Hazare, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged the people to restore power supply of all those whose electricity connections had been snapped by discoms over non-payment of bills. HT reports.

Buoyed by a late-night visit by his mentor Anna Hazare, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged the people to restore power supply of all those whose electricity connections had been snapped by discoms over non-payment of bills.

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On the eighth day of his indefinite fast at Sundar Nagri in east Delhi, Kejriwal said: "Why do we stay in darkness? You go to various corners of Sundar Nagri, find out whose lines have been disconnected and reconnect them."

According to an AAP leader, over five lakh people in Delhi have vowed not to pay "inflated" electricity and water bills after Kejriwal launched his 'civil disobedience movement'.

Members of the party are protesting in 264 municipal wards across the city since last Saturday. They are running a door-to-door campaign, asking people not to pay "inflated" electricity and water bills and sign the protest letter.

According to AAP sources, Kejriwal's health parameters are within the normal range. "I'm feeling a bit weak but am fine," Kejriwal said, adding Anna Hazare's visit to Sundar Nagri on Friday night had lent strength to the movement.

Hazare visited Kejriwal on Friday night and urged him to end his indefinite fast. The two had apparently fallen out after their anti-corruption movement over differences on launching a political party.

Addressing the supporters at Kejriwal's fast site, Hazare said: "I told him (Kejriwal) we should not kill ourselves. These fasts are bringing awareness among people. People in the whole country have awakened now. In future, we will continue to tolerate till we can and then break the fast and once we regain health we should again stand up to fight. This is not a four-day battle. But a very long war."

This is the first time that both Anna and Kejriwal came on a common platform since they parted ways in September in 2012.