Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ch. Anil Kumar said that it was surprising that Delhi Power Minister Atishi has questioned the President of India’s appointment of former Allahabad High Court Judge Umesh Kumar as the new chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), instead of the candidate recommended by the Kejriwal Government, as the  AAP Government wanted its own pliable man at the helm of  DERC so that it could continue to fleece the tax payers’ money in the name of power subsidy.

Ch. Anil Kumar said that Delhi Congress has been demanding for long that the power subsidy should be credited  into  the accounts of the power consumers instead of giving it to the power companies, as there were charges of the Kejriwal Government taking kickbacks from the power distribution  companies. He said that Congress has also been demanding audit of the accounts of DISCOMS to bring out the truth behind the power subsidy scam, but the Kejriwal Government has not yet done that, which casts serious doubts about the intention behind direct payment of power subsidy to the power distribution companies.

Ch. Anil Kumar said that had the power subsidy been directly credited into the accounts of the consumers, it would have been a huge relief for them, as consumers are now overbilled as Delhi has the highest energy charges in the country, with 22 per cent surcharge being charged on various heads. He said that even if the power consumption is less than 200 units, many consumers do not get the benefit of subsidy, as the subsidy scheme in Delhi was a major scam.

Ch. Anil Kumar said that the AAP Government in Delhi was more bothered about its powers, transfers and postings, though Kejriwal himself had admitted that Delhi was a “half State” with limited powers, instead of delivering on its promises, strengthening the infrastructure and ensuring good governance, as most of CM Kejriwal’s time is squandered in touring the country in Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s State aircraft, and in shadow-boxing with the Lt. Governor of Delhi and Government officials for anything and everything.