Delhi's Subsidies For Electricity, Water To Continue, LG Saxena Says. AAP Hails It As CM Kejriwal's 'Victory'

Delhi's subsidy schemes for electricity, water, and bus fares will continue despite CM Arvind Kejriwal's incarceration, LG VK Saxena assured prompting AAP's response hailing it as a "victory".

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena affirmed on Saturday that the subsidy schemes for electricity, water, and bus fares in the national capital will persist, disregarding speculations of their cessation due to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's incarceration. Saxena dismissed such notions as politically motivated, emphasising that these schemes transcend party lines and are endorsed by both the central government and the Lt Governor's office.

According to news agency PTI, in a press release from Raj Niwas, Saxena rebuffed claims suggesting discontinuation of the subsidy schemes due to Kejriwal's legal situation, asserting, "The schemes are part of the budget approved by the Government of India and Lt Governor, and these do not belong to an individual or a political party." He further clarified that the continuity of these schemes is unaffected by the Chief Minister's temporary absence.

The statement from Saxena came amidst allegations by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that Kejriwal's arrest was orchestrated to impede the implementation of such welfare schemes. Kejriwal, currently in judicial custody until April 15, faces charges in a money laundering case linked to a defunct excise policy.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj Hails LG's Assurance As 'Significant Victory' For CM Kejriwal

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj hailed Saxena's assurance as a triumph for Kejriwal and affirmed the commitment of the AAP government to continue its public welfare initiatives. "Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Ji had promised the people of Delhi that whether he is outside the jail or inside, he will not let the work of the people of Delhi stop," Bharadwaj stated in a post on X.

Responding to Saxena's statement, Bharadwaj asserted, "Today, Delhi's son and brother Arvind Kejriwal has had a significant victory. The people of Delhi have had a big victory." 

Saxena, in his statement, reassured the people of Delhi that the subsidy schemes benefiting the underprivileged would persist, urging them to disregard misleading rumours. He underscored that these schemes are funded by the taxes contributed by the people of Delhi to the National Capital Territory of Delhi's consolidated fund.

Bharadwaj remarked, "Those who used to say that they will not let the government run from jail, they too have accepted defeat. They accepted that the work of Delhi would not stop, the Kejriwal government will run from jail. Work will continue."

In light of Saxena's statement, Saurabh Bharadwaj lauded the resilience of CM Kejriwal's vision, highlighting, "The ideology which used to call free water and free electricity as 'revadi' is today promising the people of Delhi that no one can stop Arvind Kejriwal's schemes", as quoted by PTI.