Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has refuted allegations by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that he wanted to end the government's power subsidy, and warned of legal action if adequate proof is not provided to support the claim. Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday and cited several press communications issued by the AAP government that levelled allegations against him.
In his letter, Saxena called for accountability and responsibility regarding false and unsubstantiated statements made against him by Kejriwal and his colleagues, reported news agency PTI. He claimed that the power minister, health minister, and Kejriwal himself have made misleading, accusatory, libelous, and defamatory statements in the media and elsewhere accusing him of stopping the power subsidy.
The AAP legislators attacked Saxena during the one-day session of the Delhi Assembly on Monday. However, the party denied the allegations made by the L-G and stated that he was making false accusations.
According to Saxena, a "propaganda" was employed by Delhi Power Minister Atishi on April 14 about the Delhi government's decision on extending the power subsidy. Atishi had said that the power subsidy given by the Aam Aadmi Party government will end on April 14 as the file for its extension has not been returned by Saxena. "Power subsidy to 46 lakh families will end today as VK Saxena's approval of the Cabinet decision to extend the subsidy is pending, she claimed.
He also stated that he had always been committed to power subsidy for the poor and made that clear in the public domain and in writing on different occasions.
Saxena alleged that the claims against him were deliberate and aimed at misleading people. The AAP has accused Saxena of conspiring with the BJP to stop the power subsidy provided by Kejriwal in Delhi.
Saxena requested that any paper or communication be provided to establish that he wanted to stop the power subsidy or was conspiring with officers or a political party to halt it, as alleged by Kejriwal's ministers and colleagues. He expected the information to be furnished at the earliest.
If no adequate proof is provided, Saxena warned that he would assume that Kejriwal and his colleagues were misleading the people of Delhi and playing petty political games, which deserve unequivocal condemnation and legal redressal.
The AAP government provides free electricity to domestic consumers in Delhi on a monthly consumption of 200 units under the power subsidy. Those using 201-400 units per month receive a 50% subsidy capped at Rs 850.