PM Modi takes a dig at AAP over power bills

In an apparent dig at AAP over its poll pledge to reduce power bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wondered how such promises could be made by political parties in states which are dependent on electricity supply from outside.

In an apparent dig at AAP over its poll pledge to reduce power bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wondered how such promises could be made by political parties in states which are dependent on electricity supply from outside.

“During every election, political parties promise free power... People need to think about these promises,” said Modi at a renewable energy conference. “The parties make these promises in such states which rely on electricity supply from other states; he added hinting at Delhi, which has to purchase power from other states.

“Water accounts for a major chunk of the input cost of farmers. The cost of water is basically due to cost of power. We have to understand the problems farmers are facing,” said Modi.

Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP trounced the BJP in Delhi assembly polls. The party in its election manifesto had promised to cut electricity bills by half among other freebies. Delhi has a power demand of about 5,000 MW and is largely dependent on other states to meet its requirements.

AAP leader Ashish Khetan, who played a crucial role in chalking out party’s agenda to solve the power problem in the national capital, said the previous governments neither promoted solar energy nor did they have any good policy of any alternate source of energy.