The tussle between Delhi L-G V.K. Saxena and the Kejriwal Government intensified on October 4 as he ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the power subsidy scheme, raising the hackles of AAP leaders who claimed his move was linked to Gujarat polls and aimed at stalling the free electricity initiative.
Mr. Saxena, who took over as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in May this year, has in his tenure ordered several probes into the Kejriwal Government's works including excise policy, classroom construction, and hospital construction. The AAP has alleged that the L-G's actions were politically motivated and done at the behest of the BJP-led Central Government.
The BJP also fired a fresh salvo at the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday over the power subsidy scheme, alleging that ₹3,200 in dues of private power distribution companies were waived. It also questioned why AAP leaders had been "appointed" to the board of directors of discoms that are joint ventures between private companies and the Delhi Government.
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According to sources at the L-G office, he has directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within seven days after he received a complaint of alleged "irregularities" in the power subsidy scheme.
The complainants, including lawyers and jurists, have alleged that there was a "massive scam" in the scheme. The allegations included that the Delhi Government violated its own Cabinet decision of 2015-16 and allowed no audit even as subsidy payments of ₹11,500 crore was settled in favour of BSES discoms BRPL and BYPL.
No reaction was provided by the BSES when its comment was sought on the issue.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia slammed Mr. Saxena in a strong-worded letter, accusing him of interfering in the elected government's works in a "politically motivated and unconstitutional" manner.
“BJP-appointed L-G of Delhi has ordered the probe under yet another conspiracy hatched by the BJP to stop Arvind Kejriwal’s Vijay Rath in Gujarat,” AAP’s chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said.
Reacting to the development, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the AAP’s “free electricity guarantee” has been received “very well” by the people of Gujarat.
“That’s why the BJP wants to stop free electricity in Delhi.”
“But have faith in me,” Mr. Kejriwal said in a tweet addressed to the people of Delhi. “I will not allow your free power to be stopped at any cost.” Mr. Kejriwal also assured the people of Gujarat “your power will also be free from March 1” if the AAP forms a government there.
Power subsidy is a major poll plank of AAP. People using less than 200 units per month do not have to pay any electricity charges, while those consuming up to 400 units get a 50% subsidy up to ₹800. However, from October 1, only those consumers who opt for the subsidy will receive it in Delhi.
In his letter, Mr. Sisodia said the L-G has no power to issue orders on any matters concerning the Delhi Government except for land, police, and law and order.
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Stating the L-G has been regularly ordering probes into decisions taken by the elected government in Delhi, he alleged these inquiries were "illegal and unconstitutional".
Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the AAP Government of benefiting discoms through the scheme.
"Why was the electricity subsidy not provided with honesty and transparency to the citizens of Delhi? Why was it not given through direct benefit like the Central Government and why were middlemen brought in?" Mr. Trivedi asked.
The senior BJP leader alleged that a benefit of around ₹8,000 crore was provided to power distribution companies by collecting a lesser amount of late fee charge.
"When private companies were given the right to collect 18% in the name of late fees then why were the same companies paying only 12% to the Delhi Government for the late fee?
"Where was this profit of 6% going? As per an assumption, they benefitted with around ₹8,000 crore through this in last few years," Mr. Trivedi alleged.
He also said that generally, government officials used to be nominated on the boards of power companies.
"But for the first time, the AAP nominated two of its office-bearers and a son of its MP to the boards of the power distribution company. What was the [AAP's] purpose behind this?" Mr. Trivedi asked.
BJP's IT department in charge Amit Malviya alleged that "undue" benefits were given by the Kejriwal Government to two power discoms.
"Mr. Kejriwal gave undue benefits worth ₹11,550 crore to two power DISCOMs and a windfall of ₹8,500 crore, which was extracted from the people of Delhi but paid to these private companies instead of the Govt.," Mr. Malviya tweeted.
A source in the L-G office said, "The L-G has asked the chief secretary to conduct an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the power subsidy amount given by the AAP Government to BSES discoms and sought a report within seven days."
The L-G has also asked the chief secretary to probe the non-implementation of power subsidy payment to consumers through Direct Benefit Transfer as ordered by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission in 2018, the sources said.
The complainants have alleged the AAP Government, instead of recovering the dues of ₹21,200 crore allegedly owed by the BSES discoms for power purchased by them from State generation companies, allowed them (discoms) to settle their outstanding through subsidy reimbursements, the sources said.
It was also alleged the discoms were allowed to charge Late Payment Surcharge (LPSC) at a rate of 18% from consumers while they themselves paid LPSC at 12% to the Delhi Government-owned power generation companies.
"In the process, the discoms were provided a windfall gain of ₹8,500 crore at the cost of the State exchequer," alleged the complainants.
Another allegation was that the implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) for subsidy payment to consumers, as directed by DERC, was blocked by the AAP Government with the aim of "concealing" the actual number of subsidy beneficiaries and thereby paying "unverified amounts" to the discoms.
The Aam Aadmi Party, however, said that authorities can go ahead with the probe but the AAP Governments in Delhi and Punjab will not stop the implementation of the free electricity scheme.
