APCC chief YS Sharmila has strongly protested against increase in electricity surcharges by the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government in the state. She alleged this reflects basically there is no change between YCP and TDP-led regimes in burdening people of the state.
She said that if the YCP government increased electricity charges 9 times in five years and TDP started soon after it came to power. She called for protests across the state on the 5th of this month opposing the imposition of the burden of adjustment charges on the people.
Responding to the three free gas cylinder scheme formally launched by the coalition government, Sharmila said that the coalition government, which is making a fuss about giving three cylinders free of cost and lighting lamps in poor families, on the other hand stirring up trouble with electricity adjustment charges.
She said that this is what it means to “give with one hand and take away with the other hand”. She criticized that while the government spends Rs. 2,685 crores on free cylinders every year, it is being penalized by collecting surcharges to the tune of Rs. 6,000 crores.
She strongly refuted the government’s contention that these charges were a sin of the previous YCP regime and nothing to do with their governance. Moreover, she wondered if the government was stating that it was not they but the APERC who gave permission to collect bills. She alleged that it is nothing but a lame excuse.
Sharmila demanded that the government should bear the surcharges burden. She warned that if the government does not withdraw the decision on surcharges, the Congress will protest.
She reminded that they had promised people during elections that they would not impose even a single rupee additional burden on electricity after coming to power. If necessary, assured that they would reduce the charges by 35 percent. The PCC chief demanded that the election promise be kept. As BJP is part of their coalition, she suggested that they may seek Centre’s support to meet this additional burden.