In another reactive action by Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra Government against the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, the former has nodded an inquiry against the latter for an alleged deficit in energy bill collection during the latter’s ruling in the state. While sharing the information about the same, the State Energy Minister, Nitin Raut, informed the reporters that Maha Vikas Aaghadi (MVA) government held a cabinet meeting on Thursday, November 19, and decided to hold an inquiry to determine the reason for deficit in energy bill recovery during BJP ruling in the previous term.
“In yesterday’s cabinet meeting we have discussed the deficits that happened in last government tenure and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered an inquiry into this. We want to see how the previous government has worked to bring Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) under deficits,” said the Cabinet Minister while interacting with press on Friday.
Terming the BJP led Central Government as “Sahukars” (Money Lenders), Raut slammed the saffron party for declaring state wide protest against the MVA government for its false promise of relaxing the energy bill payment due to COVID-19 pandemic. “BJP should protest against the Central Government rather than the State Government because we have asked for a loan from the Centre, but they are levelling higher interest rates than banks. The interest rate is 11 per cent. They (BJP) are real Sahukars,” claimed Raut in the press conference held on Friday.
The cabinet minister also responded to reporters’ question on his earlier promise to offer free electricity of 100 unit to the state citizens which yet hasn’t seen the light of the day. “I am still firm on my stand of providing free 100 units electricity in the state, and we have already formed a committee to work on it. But, due to Corona Virus, we were unable to meet the target,” said Nitin Raut in the press conference.
The opposition party, predominantly BJP, is engirdling the present MVA government for its non-fulfillment of latter’s earlier promise to provide exemption on electricity bill. The party functionaries held a protest march on Friday against the Uddhav Thackeray led Maha Vikas Aaghadi (MVA) government for its non fulfilment of its promise. The party has warned the state government of holding a state wide protest against its failure to serve what it promised to the state.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray has also warned for “it’s styled agitation” across the state if the state government doesn’t keep its promise on exemption on electricity bill. “You gave a shock to the common man with electricity bills, now if you come to disconnect electricity, we will give you a shock in MNS style,” warned MNS President for Palghar & Thane locations, Avinash Jadhav, in a video post on Facebook. The MNS chief, Raj Thackeray, has even written a letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray over the inflated bills and termed the exorbitant and unreasonable power bills as “looting of the citizens” when they have lost jobs.
