New Delhi, Sep 29 : Hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday described the proposed amendment to the Electricity Act 2003 as "anti-people" and "anti-federal", the BJP hit back, saying it reflects the city government is hand in glove with private companies to loot people with extra-ordinarily high power tariff.
"The opposition expressed by Kejriwal towards the proposed efforts of the Central government for providing cheap electricity to the people reflects that his government is hand in glove with the private companies to loot the people with extra ordinary high tariff," Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said here.
He said that the central government is trying to bring a Bill for withdrawal of excessive meter load surcharge.
Tiwari pointed out that the Central government provides electricity to all states "but often the states, as in the present case of Delhi, impose excessive surcharges and make power costly for the people".
"In this situation, under the constitutional framework the Centre has all the power to bring a Bill to reduce the power tariff," said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
He said it is an effort in public interest effort and there is no misuse of power involved in it.
Tiwari's remarks came after Kejriwal said the proposed amendment to the Electricity Act 2003 would lead to a steep hike in the electricity bill of the common man.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also alleged that the bill would also result in complete control of the Centre over the power sector and total exclusion of the states.
Tiwari said that if the cost of electricity for the public can be brought down without any impact on actual revenue, there is no reason for the state government to oppose it.
"The way Kejriwal has reacted to the proposed Bill on reduction of electricity surcharge, it seems that some kind of misappropriation has been going on in working out power tariff and other surcharges with the connivance of Delhi government and private companies," he added.
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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
