BJP legislators, corporates hold protest march, submits memorandum to LG for the immediate dismissal of CM

Memorandum to the Honourable Lieutenant Governor Shri Najeeb Jung for dismissal of Chief Minister Smt Sheila Dikshit
 

To                                                                                                                                               Dated: Sept.3, 2013
 
The Lieutenant Governor
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
Raj Niwas
New Delhi
 
Respected Sir,
 
The Delhi BJP is deeply concerned over the unprecedented situation prevailing in the Delhi Government after a Special Court ordered to file an FIR against the Delhi Chief Minister Smt Sheila Dikshit in a case of corruption. The refusal of the Chief Minister to resign on her own has led to a Constitutional crisis. The development has caused an unprecedented erosion of faith in the Office of the Chief Minister causing a lot of anguish among the common people of the city. 
 
– Various institutions and agencies have repeatedly exposed the cases of corruption and indicted the Chief Minister and her ministerial colleagues for irregularities of massive proportions in various projects. Various investigation agencies like Delhi Lokayukta, CBI or Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has indicted and censured the Chief Minister and her cabinet colleagues in several cases of corruption such as; 
 
– In May 2013, the Lokayukta had recommended to President to issue an "advisory" to the Chief Minister and the PWD Minister asking them to desist from publication of their photographs on a form offering loan at low rates to entrepreneurs from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. 
 
– In 2012, the CBI unearthed a scam of Rs 10 crore in the purchase of anti-biotic shots by the Delhi government at inflated prices from a Bangalore-based multinational pharmaceutical company. 
 
– In 2011, the CAG indicted the Delhi Chief Minister’s Office along with Prime Minister's Office for deep flaws and financial losses in the CWG preparations. The report puts the cost of the event at Rs. 28, 054 crore, nearly 100 times more than the original figure of Rs 296 crore.
 
– In July 2011, Delhi Lokayukta had also indicted Chief Minister for false claims that 60, 000 low cost flats have been built and were ready for allotment to the poors just before the run-up to the 2008 Assembly elections.
 
– In the same year, the Delhi Lokayukta recommended the removal of a senior minister of the GNCT for trying to thwart a tax evasion probe against the owner of a Resort cum banquet hall. 
 
– The GNCT also affected a Rs. 2800 crore scam in the name of regularizing 1600 unauthorized colonies. 
 
– Delhi Lokayukta also recommended that action be taken against present Delhi Assembly Speaker Sh. Yoganand Shastri on the corruption allegations made against him by the Secretary of Delhi Assembly. 
 
– The Chief Minister was also responsible for stalling the decision of the then DERC Chairman who after scrutiny of audits by power distribution companies wanted to give relief to the people of Delhi and reduce the power tariffs by 20 per cent. 
 
– In the latest case, the Delhi Lokayukta found the Chief Minister guilty of spending around Rs 22.6 crore of public money for her party’s political campaign. The Lokayukta also recommended recovery of Rs 11 crore from the Chief Minister as penalty. Even the Delhi court found merit in Lokayukta’s decision and ordered that an FIR be lodged in the matter against the Chief Minister. 
 
– Further, the Special Court’s order is a statement that the Chief Minister has deliberately demeaned even the institution of the Lokayukta as when she was indicted by him in this case she blatantly said that the Lokayukta had crossed his brief.  The Court’s order makes it clear that it was the Chief Minister who committed grave impropriety by misusing public funds. 
 
-The Chief Minister is also not allowing the duly elected three municipal corporations of Delhi to work for the welfare of the people. She is scuttling the release of funds for these MCDs. This has severely affected the welfare of the people. The Delhi government has already cut down Rs 600 crore out of Rs. 18310 crore which was promised to the three municipal corporations, for upkeep of the corporations after the trifurcation of the MCD last year which has hampered the development work. 
 
-The Congress government is continuing with yet another scam by misusing public money for a massive advertising campaign. Already Rs 300 crore have been spent on it. It should be stopped immediately as the public money was misused in similar way prior to 2008 assembly polls.
 
 
In the light of existing circumstances, the Delhi Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) believes that the continuance of the Chief Minister in her office even after the order of the Special Court, is damaging for the sacrosanct nature of public life and violates all norms of governance. It is of utmost significance to maintain transparency in public life but the Chief Minister and her Cabinet colleagues have not maintained transparency in dealing with government affairs and can be called ‘serial offenders’. Thus, BJP seek immediate dismissal of Chief Minister so that the sanctity and propriety of the office is maintained.  
 
 
Sincerely.

The Delhi BJP today demanded that Delhi Chief Minister Smt Sheila Dikshit must step down immediately as it has become untenable for her to stay in this position after a Delhi Court today ordered to file an FIR against the Chief Minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special Court’s order came in a case of misuse of public fund for political campaign filed by former Delhi BJP President Shri Vijender Gupta.
 
The Delhi BJYM today announced that it will hold a cycle rally against CM demanding her resignation. Thousands of party workers will reach CM’s residence on bicycles to demand her ouster.
 
Delhi BJP President Sh. Vijay Goel said, “The BJP stand has been vindicated by this Court order today. The Chief Minister has lost moral right to continue. She should resign immediately and if she refuses to do so, she should be sacked. The hoardings put up the Delhi government at the cost of public exchequer should be removed immediately.”
 
He further added, “The BJP will launch an all out agitation to press for the resignation of the Chief Minister. She has been under the scanner in the past for Commonwealth Games Scam, DJB scam and several other scams. All her cabinet colleagues have also been involved in several cases of corruption. ”
 
Sh. Goel said that if the Delhi government has spent Rs. 300 crore to put up hoardings all over the city. If it does not remove its hoardings immediately then the BJP workers will span out in all parts of the city and take down these hoardings.
 
The case in which the FIR has been ordered to be registered relates to expenditure of nearly Rs. 22 crore from the state exchequer on putting Congress’s hoardings across the city in the run up to 2008 assembly polls. The Chief Minister was also the Minister In charge of Information and publicity at time of this gross misuse of public fund.
 
A number of government advertisements were published in the form of publications of advertisement in newspaper, large number of hoarding showing photographs of the Congress President and the Chief Minister all over Delhi Metro, bus stands and also in form of Radio Jingles and TV Spots. The expenditure was incurred from the State Exchequer while the entire advertisement campaign was actually a poll-campaign of the Congress Party.
 
Moreover, the advertisement carried out of public fund spread misleading information about the achievements of the Congress’s government. The advertisements had claimed 60,000 new houses were ready for allotment. But, as established in an inquiry later, the Delhi Government had no houses and no such plan either at the time of issuing the advertisement campaign.
 
The Lokayukta nailed the lies and falsehood spread by the Delhi Government by instituting an inquiry. The Lokayukta probe found the Chief Minister guilty of unauthorized expenditure from the state exchequer in this matter and directed her to deposit Rs 11 crore to the exchequer. In the capacity of the Minister for Information and Publicity, the Chief Minister spent more than 100 times of the allocated fund for the campaign through hoardings and advertisements. She ordered to spend Rs 22 crore against the budget of just Rs. 15 Lakh.
 
The matter reached the court as the Chief Minister continued to defy the Lokayukta’s order and used her official position to thwart the attempts by the Anti-corruption Bureau to file an FIR in the case. Now, that the Special Court has ordered to file an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Smt Dikshit has no moral right to occupy the Chief Minister’s Office any longer. 

The Delhi BJP will declare “Chhat Puja” to be a public holiday and resolve issues and problems affecting Purvanchali population in the city within a fixed timeframe.  The party will also focus on providing them with affordable housing, ration cards, aadhar cards and ration cards immediately after it comes to power.

With more than 3 million Purvanchalis in the city, the party will give appropriate representation to them in the ticket distribution in the coming assembly polls. The BJP is well aware of the problems Purvanchalis faced and it is committed to resolve these issues. The BJP leaders slammed the Congress for ignoring problems of Purvanchali community during the last 15 years. They also announced that the BJP will set the new agenda for development Purvanchalis by holding 14 District Level Sammelans in coming days.

The party’s Purvanchal Morcha organised a massive and successful “Purvanchal Sammelan” earlier during the day at Mavlankar Hall in the heart of the city where thousands thronged the venue and vented their ire at the failure of Congress government. Addressing the Sammelan, former National President and Delhi election in-charge Shri Nitin Gadkari said, “The BJP will declare public holiday on the occasion of Chhat when it comes to power in Delhi. "Chhat is a Mahaparva. Despite the decade old demand of more than 40 lakh people from Purvanchal demanding declaration of public holiday on this day, Delhi government did not pay heed to this. Now, BJP promises you that we will declare Chhat a public holiday once our party comes to power."

He further said that the entire country is proud of the culture, language and history of the Purvanchal but they have been neglected and humiliated by the Congress government in Delhi for all these years. "Purvanchalis have contributed immensely in the dissemination of ideas and ideology of BJP across the country and party will always remain grateful to them for this. We are also aware of the humiliation and neglect that you have suffered at the hands of Delhi government in past 15 years. Time has come to avenge it. Make sure that not a single Purvanchali vote goes to Congress in the coming elections," said Sh. Gadkari.                      
 
Addressing the Sammelan, Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel said, “Delhi's progress would not have been possible without hard work of Purvanchalis.  But the Delhi Chief Minister has attacked their dignity and honour by saying that they are responsible for the problems of Delhi. The Purvanchalis should give a befitting reply to the Congress government. "40 per cent of Delhi has no sewerage and majority of our Purvanchali brothers and sisters are living in horrid conditions in undeveloped colonies and villages," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP and Delhi Election Co-Incharge said that even Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of living in forest (vanvas) and it is high time that Purvanchalis too return to power after 15 years of Congress rule. "Even Hanumanji was reminded about his power. So let me tell you that dislodging this government is in your hands. You are the power in Delhi and your vote will decide the future 'King' of Delhi", said Sh. Sidhu.

Sh. R K Sinha , Delhi Election Co-Incharge  said, " The Purvanchalis should come out and work hard with the BJP as the party is committed to work for the welfare of Purvanchali community.”
Delhi BJP spokesperson Shri Aman Sinha said, “Inflation, poor public transport and lack of development in unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters has a most severe impact on migrant population in the city  which largely comprises of Purvanchali community. The Congress government has done nothing  for them during last 15 years.

Sh. Vijay Bhagat, President, Delhi BJP’s  Purvanchal Morcha  said,  "Let us pledge today that we will work with a mission to throw Congress out of Delhi and not rest until the job is done. We also need to pledge that we will not sell ourselves for few rupees or alcohol during the elections. We assure our leaders that they can take us for granted and are ready for any sacrifice for the party." Among others, the Sammelan was also attended by former Delhi BJP President Shri  Vijender Gupta, Smt Poonam Azad,  Shri Lal Bihar Tewari and Shri Anil Jha (MLA).

New Delhi, August 26.  The Delhi BJP today demanded that FIRs should be registered against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami, Urban Development Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf for their dubious role in the “Commercial vehicles” fitness scam.
 
The party also demanded that the Lt. Governor of Delhi should immediately sack them if they do not step down. The party said that the cases related to this scam should be transferred to the CBI or an SIT (Special Investigation Team) should be constituted to probe the scam and bring the guilty to the book.

It may be recalled that the Delhi BJP had exposed the scam in fitness tests of Commercial Vehicles in Delhi. The party said there is clear evidence of  a direct role of Smt. Sheila Dixit, Sh Haroon Yusuf and other ministers/ bureaucrats.
 
Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel said, “Now the Chief minister, her cabinet colleagues and some senior officials are trying to derail the investigation. There is evidence on record which shows how the high and the mighty in Congress have resorted to influence peddling to hush up this huge scam.” 
 
“The implications of this scam on common people are terrifying. Lakhs of commercial vehicles are running on roads of Delhi without proper fitness tests due to this scam putting at risk lakhs of lives every day,” he added.
 
The Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi government had registered an FIR nubmer – 21/12 on 17th December 2012, as per the RTI evidences and complaint filed by Shri Vivek Garg (Advocate & RTI Activist) in court, through his Counsels Ajay Goyal, Vivek Gupta, Jai Ram Garg.
 
“But despite of the clear evidence, ACB is scared to interrogate/investigate Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Shri Haroon Yusuf, Sh Arvinder Singh Lovely and other accused in top positions as ACB comes directly under Delhi Government,” said Shri Goel.

He further added that the BJP is in possession of a note/ letter dated 3.1.2013, signed by Transport Minister Ramakant Goswam.  In this note, he has Ramakant has unlawfully and unfairly called the report (which was filed by ACB in the court), not only as “Vague and Sketchy at places but also to be factually inconsistent”.

Shri Goel said in light of the above facts, there are several questions that need to be answered:

1.      From where did the Transport Minister get this Report of ACB, as he was not legally entitled to get the copy of this Report.  This Report was exclusively available with only the Court and ACB.

2.      On what legal grounds the Transport Minister is stating the ACB’s Report as “vague”, whereas in its report, the ACB has clarified that the crime was committed by PC Tamta, Nitin Manawat of ESP India and Transport Department.  Why the Transport Minister trying to save the high profile accused?  Isn’t it an indication that he himself is involved in this scam and is scared to be exposed along with other accused?

3.      As per this note/ letter in possession of the Delhi BJP, the Transport Minister tried to influence the Investigation / ACB to shield the Chief Minister, Haroon Yusuf, ESP India and other bureaucrats from the possible indictment.   By influencing/interfering in the investigation, the Transport Minister tried to force the ACB which is a serious violation of law, which needs to be investigated too.  Even in his recent and earlier report, C&AG has also revealed the loot of public money and unlawful acts of the top corrupts, in this scam.
 
 
In the various statements/ applications, given by various transport officials like Shri R Chandramohan-IAS (ex-Commissioner), Shri M A Usmani (Ex-Dy Com), Shri Anil Chhikara (MLO) and others, they have clearly disclosed that the contract was awarded without tender to ESP India with the approval/ consent/ direction of Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Shri Haroon Yusuf and other Ministers/ Bureaucrats.  But despite of having enough evidences and statements, ACB is not doing fair investigation due to the political pressure.

Even the Transport Minister visited VIU(Vehicle Inspection Unit) at Burari on 25.9.2012 where he was informed by some honest officials that tests like Loaded Mode Test was not functioning.  Loaded Mode Test was not even being conducted practically as no machine was installed to do this test. This test was being done only on papers and fake receipts were issued at the high cost.  Commercial Vehicle owners were being annually charged Rs. 1600/- for three tests i.e. 400/- for I&C Lane; 720 for Loaded Mode & 480/- for Third Party (CNG Leakage) Test.  Rs. 100 per vehicle, were being charged extra by the transport department to issue the Certificate of Fitness.
 
Even other tests were not being conducted, as per law.  But instead of taking any action, the Transport Minister kept his eyes closed to give undue favour to the accused and abused his official position.

It is important to mention that except the arrest of PC Tamta, Nitin Manawat of ESP India Co and two junior officials, there has been no progress in the case.
 
Top Congress politicians are being freely allowed to tamper with the evidences and being given safe passage to escape from lawful punishment.  
 
Despite the fact that the consents/ approvals/ directions were given by the CM and her Ministers, they are moving scot free and not indicted so far in the investigation.  At every stage, undue favours were doled out by the CM/ Ministers to ESP India.
  
The party demanded that all efforts to hush up this case must stop and probed immediately and those who are guilty should be punished including the CM and her cabinet colleagues.

The Delhi BJP today slammed the Congress government over unabated rise in the prices of onion and other staple food items in the national capital. The party said it is ironical that while the Congress government has completely failed to perform its basic duty of controlling price rise, it is trying to go for window dressing by making false claims and tall promises to residents of Delhi.
 
In a joint statement issued today, Delhi BJP general secretaries Smt. Shikha Rai, Shri Ramesh Bidhuri and Shri Jai Prakash said that the prices of onion have brought tears to common household’s eyes but the Congress government has failed to put any check on these prices. It is issuing completely misleading price lists claiming otherwise. This is like adding insult to injury.
 
Highlighting the troubles of the women of Delhi in managing kitchen and household budget, Delhi BJP General Secretary Shikha Rai said, “Under the present Congress regime, even the regular items of kitchen are vanishing from the dinner table. Onions are being sold at a price upto Rs. 70 in the national capital. Similar is the case with other staples including tomatoes.”
 
“How can anyone have a decent meal on a daily basis? Are we heading to a regime of ‘Onion-Loan’ from banks?”
 
“The Congress government is playing in the hands of hoarders who are creating artificial shortage of onion and other food articles,” said Shri Bidhuri.
 
 “The Congress government has turned its eyes away from the sufferings of people. Corruption has crippled the entire government machinery under Congress, giving a free run to middlemen and hoarders,” he added.
 
The party has also criticized the Centre’s decision to export onions to Pakistan while people back home are facing a crisis.
 
Delhi BJP General Secretary Shri Jai Prakash expressed his utter dismay at the lack of efforts from the Congress government in dealing with the onion crisis. Shri Jai Prakash said, “The Congress government’s inertia is hitting the consumers very hard. It first connived with the hoarders and caused rise in prices of onion and now it is opening onion stalls to gain political mileage out of people’s problem.”
 
On July 15, 2013, the union commerce ministry released data showing that the price of onions had shot up 114 percent since June 2012. The consumer price inflation rose 9.9 percent in the 12 months through June this year. This is the biggest jump among the BRIC nations. It was 6.7 percent in Brazil, 6.9 percent in Russia, and just 2.7 percent in China.

In a show of unprecedented strength at Ramlila Grounds , the  Delhi BJP today organized a massive and historic  “Bijli Rally” and gave a call for ouster of the corrupt, inefficient and insensitive Congress government in Delhi. The party today reiterated its promise of 30% reduction in power tariffs in Delhi after coming to power and explained to lakhs of people how it is going to do it(Please see Key Points at the end of the statement).

Lakhs of people started gathering at Ramlila grounds since early morning. As the crowds swelled, the overwhelming support was evident from the way all roads surrounding Ram lia ground were overbrimming with party sympathsiers and supporter.

The BJP leaders who spoke at the rally exposed the misrule of Congress government  with a promise that the wrongs done by the Congress would be set right  when BJP comes to power in Delhi.

There was huge response from people, who came from all the corners of the national capital to voice their anguish at and opposition to the apathy of the Congress government in Delhi.

Addressing the rally BJP’s national President Shri Rajnath Singh declared that the writing on the all is clear that the common man wants Congress to go. Shri Singh said that the Congress’s government has been complicit in continuing the power fraud on people of Delhi. The BJP national President emphasised that it is shocking that despite the fact that Smt Sheila Dikshit has been the Chief Minister of Delhi for the past 15 years, a vast majority of the residents don’t have access to basic civic amenities. Shri Singh promised that the BJP will provide all the basic amenities including electricity, health, water, education, roads and proper drainage to all the residents of the national capital when it comes to power.

Referring to the audacious aggressions by Pakistan killing Indian soldiers on the borders, the BJP national President said that the Congress-led UPA government under Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh has grossly compromised the security of the nation. He demanded that the diplomatic relations with Pakistan be scaled down and that the Prime Minister must not talk to Pakistan Prime Minister Shri Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UNGA in the US next month. The BJP national President announced that the party will support the Food Security Bill in Parliament as the party does not want to give any excuse to the Congress party for not attending the poor of the country. Shri Singh said that the Congress’s policy is to perpetuate poverty in India without realizing that the India youths are being praised worldwide for their talent and hard-work.

Addressing the rally, Delhi BJP President Vijay Goel underlined the insensitive attitude of the present Congress government. Shri Goel said that the Congress government has connived with the power Discoms to secure an unprecedented hike of upto 72% in power tariff in Delhi over the years. Shri Goel said that the Congress government has kept under the cover its approval for  power tariff hike by a humongous 300% just after the assembly polls as the government has accepted the Rs. 19,000 crore regulatory losses as proposed by the power distribution companies. He warned that unless this design by the Congress government and the power Discoms was not defeated, the future generations would be paying for the “power shocks” being given to the people of Delhi right now.

The Delhi BJP President promised that as soon as the BJP comes to power in the city, it would take measures that would bring down power tariff by 30% and end the loot by the Discoms. Shri Goel reminded the people of Delhi that when privatization of power sector was done in 2002, electricity was available at Re. 1.0 per unit for 0-50 units slab and an average tariff was Rs. 1.37 per unit. Now power is available at minimum of Rs. 3.90 per unit—a hike of 285%.

“The Discoms are cheating the people by indulging in unethical trade practices like buying power and power equipment at higher rates from their sister concerns, and fudging their accounts to show loss. “

Sh. Goel said, “Just like competition among mobile service providers has brought down the call rates, the BJP would induce competition in the power sector in Delhi too which would ensure that the tariff is reduced and consumers pay less and less.”

He said, “In addition to power sector, the Congress government has failed on all fronts. Today the education system in government schools has gone for a six and the parents of children studying there feel cheated but the government is busy in fudging figures to project false claims.”

“After power, the Congress government wants to privatise water and create a mess there while half of Delhi is thirsty.The Congress government is announcing a number of schemes such as extension of Lal Dora and restricted use of Section 81, a few months before polls. What was it doing for the last 15 years?, ” asked Sh. Goel

Addressing the rally, the leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly Sh. Vijay Kumar Malhotra said, “The Congress government has committed a big fraud in the name of regularizing unauthorized colonies. There are atleast 116 colonies which do not exist and yet they are announced to be regularized. Lakhs of rupees have gone into Congress leader’s pockets.”

Dr. Harshavardhan, former Delhi BJP President said, “The Congress government in Delhi has failed on all fronts-power, water, Yamuna cleaning, environment, food and civil supplie, transport etc. We had raised the issue of power scam in 2003 itself and the Public Accounts Committee of Delhi Assembly headed by Congress leader Dr. S.C. Vats had  clearly said that there is a scam worth atleast Rs 12500 crore in the power sector.”

Former Delhi BJP President Sh. Vijendra Gupta said, “People want to get rid of Congress. We challenge the CM to come and debate with us on the frauds committed in the power sector.”

Amongst others who addressed the rally were former Mayor Aarti mehra, Vijay Jolly, National secretaries Anil jain, Vaani Tripathi and Shyam jaju and BJP national executive member Kiron Kher.  Delhi BJP election incharge Sh. Nitin  Gadkari who could not attend the rally due to delay in flight called up Shri Vijay Goel and complimented him, BJP leaders, cadres and most of all the people of Delhi who made this rally a huge success.

 How BJP will reduce the power tariff by 30%
 
(i)                 Power purchase agreements  to be  made public for introducing transparency – review existing PPAs
(ii)               Introduction of Competition: Currently the DISCOMS have cartelized and have monopolized the distribution of electricity. The BJP government would introduce competition among the companies which would eliminate monopoly of DISCOMS and help in reducing the increased tariff rates.
(iii)             End monopoly and introduce open access system: Consumer may purchase power from any company that provides cheaper and stable power as is happening in Mumbai.
(iv)              Curtailing unnecessary Purchase of Power: The DISCOMS are currently buying the electricity more than the requirement of Delhi and eventually consumers are bearing the cost of this extra electricity. All consumers are paying and will continue to pay Rs. 2/- per unit extra for this extra electricity bought by DISCOMS. We will reduce this unnecessary purchase of power which will reduce the extra burden on consumers. After adding the carrying cost the effective increase per unit would be Rs. 3.50.
(v)                Providing Separate Neutral to each Consumer: The current electric meters have the common neutral because of which the consumers are paying for the electricity which they are not using. It has come to light that the residents are paying 25% to 40% higher bills without actually consuming the power.  BJP will provide the separate neutral to each consumer which will reduce the inflated bills.
(vi)              Introduce Transparency in the Working of DISCOMS: DISCOMS lack the transparency in their working. Today, on the one hand, the DERC is recommending huge loss for the year 2013-14 in the Statutory Advice and in the tariff order there is a surplus. Therefore, the consumers are being hoodwinked by the Regulator, the DISCOMS and the Delhi Government. This raises serious doubts on credibility of the DERC and the Delhi Government. So, BJP will bring in the transparency in the working of DISCOMS by CAG audit.
(vii)            Invite Competitive International Bids for DISCOMS. This will ensure the efficient energy distribution.
(viii)          Control the Power Theft: The losses on account of electricity theft are routinely passed on to the customers in the form of higher energy charges. So by controlling the electricity theft we will reduce the electricity bills.
(ix)              Bringing DISCOMS under RTI: DISCOMS do not come under RTI act. BJP government will bring them under RTI act which will make them answerable to the common people and also increase transparency in their working.
(x)                Accountable DERC: The DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission) over a period of time seems to have lost its independence, autonomy and credibility. We will focus on strengthening the DERC by appointing the competent people as heads which will establish the control over DISCOMS.
(xi)              Conduct Energy Audit: The purchase, supply and use of electricity by all the stakeholders are not transparent leaving immense scope for the DISCOMS to get away with power fraud. Conducting energy audit will clear this mess and differentiate between a common power consumer and an electricity guzzler.

Shri Vijay Goel has issued a press statement saying that the Central government seems be waking up from a deep slumber and considering to announce a hike in dearness allowance for the government employees. Reacting to this DA hike proposal, Shri Goel said that in the wake of rising prices of all the essential commodities, inflation has been hurting not only the government employees but also the poor and the middle class.  Shri Goel further said that the latest DA hike proposed to be announced by the government is too less and too late.
 
Shri Goel reminded that fifth pay commission had recommended that if the DA crosses more than 50 per cent then it should be clubbed with the basic pay. This provided some relief to the government employees. But this was discontinued in Sixth Pay Commission. Thus at present DA is more than 80 per cent of the basic pay but it is not made part of basic pay. Now the DA is expected to increase by 10 to 11 per cent but the government is not waking up. Instead of adding the DA to basic pay, the government is planning to set up the Seventh pay Commission.
 
 If the Seventh pay Commission is set up, then it should be implemented from 2014 and not 2016, demanded Shri Goel. If there is any delay in this then interim relief should be provided and the DA should be immediately linked with the basic pay. This would help the government employees to get atleast bare minimum relief from onslaught of inflation.