Join us in protest against power tariff hike

Press Release

Hyderabad, January 8: YSR Congress has called upon the people to participate in large number in the State-wide protest programme against power hike to be held on Wednesday.

“The proposed hike in power charges shows the non seriousness of the State government and its anti-people policies. We will picket sub stations in all the assembly constituencies and urge people of all sections to join us in the protest,” party official spokesperson Jupudi Prabhakar Rao told reporters here on Tuesday   

The State has a proposal to burden the consumers by Rs 15,000 crores from April 1 and this is in addition to the already increased power tariff and Fuel Surcharge Adjustment charges.  Though there is every scope for alternatives like purchasing power from other states and increasing the power production, the State has been toeing the easy path of passing on the burden to the consumers, he said.

“We condemn the non seriousness of the leaders at the helm and call upon people and cadre cutting across all political parties to join us in the one-day peaceful dharna against the hike in power tariff,’ he said.

The insensitiveness of the State Government has been affecting all sections of the society. Agriculture, industrial and domestic sectors are badly hit by the steep hike in power charges, he said adding that Congress has conceded that it cannot govern the state without imposing taxes and increasing charges.

 YSR’s promise of nine hour power to farmers and not to increase charges till 2009 was not honoured by Congress leaders after his death.

Many industries are being shut down as they are getting only 40 per cent power supply. Though the main opposition party is not playing its part properly, YSR Congress will take up public issues and fight for their cause which has been the main motto of our leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, he said.  

YSR did not increase the power tariff nor increased any taxes as he was an elected leader while the present leaders, who are selected by High Command, do not know the pulse of the people and are taking irresponsible decisions, he said.

Though the Congress and TDP had conspired to put our leader in jail, we will carry out his agenda and in the ensuing elections, the two parties have to pay the price for the anti-people decisions, he said adding that only YS Jagan Mohan Reddy can put the state back on the development track.

On Akbaruddin’s issue, he said, “our party condemns such remarks. We are against fundamentalists and are for secularism,” he said and refuted the charges of some parties and leaders trying to connect YSRCP with Akbar’s views.