Delhi's subsidies on power, water, bus fare to stay: Lt Governor

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena on Saturday said none of the subsidy schemes being run in the national capital will be stopped just because Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is lodged in jail, prompting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to claim the statement as a victory for its government.

In Short

• Delhi’s subsidy schemes to continue, assures Lt Governor
• Arvind Kejriwal is currently lodged in Tihar Jail
• AAP sees Lt Governor's statement as victory

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena on Saturday said none of the subsidy schemes being run in the national capital will be stopped just because Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is lodged in jail, prompting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to claim the statement as a victory for its government.

The Lt. Governor expressed his stern objection to the deliberately inaccurate and misleading statements made by members and ministers of a certain political party with obvious reference to Aam Aadmi Party. His statement claimed that the misleading claims suggest that the subsidies and schemes related to free electricity, water, and bus rides for women will cease as the Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, is currently in Tihar jail.

Refuting the claims, Lt. Governor said that none of the existing schemes benefiting the less privileged will be halted and urged the public to disregard the rumors being circulated and dismiss any attempts at false attribution.

Emphasizing the source of these schemes' funds, the Lt. Governor stated they are financed by the people of Delhi through their contribution to the National Capital Territory of Delhi’s (NCTD) consolidated fund through taxes, not any individual or political party's account.

He also underlined the fact that these subsidy schemes are government initiatives and are not tied or dependent on any specific individual or their position. Therefore, the notion that a scheme would be affected because of any individual serving jail time is baseless. The schemes have a designated budgetary allocation approved by the Indian government following constitutional and statutory provisions.

Published By:
Shweta Kumari
Published On:
Apr 14, 2024