Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Monday strongly criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding his statements on a recent power tariff hike. Lone asserted that comparisons to tariffs in other states were inappropriate and that discussions during elections had focused solely on the local power situation.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that Chief Minister Abdullah had stated his government never promised that power rates would not increase. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to providing 200 units of free electricity to the poorest households, explaining that solar panels would be utilized for this purpose.
Sajad Lone, who is also the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Handwara, took to the social media platform X to express his dissent. He argued that power tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir should be compared to past tariffs within the region, rather than being selectively compared to those in other states at the Chief Minister’s discretion. Lone emphasized that such comparisons were not made during election campaigns.
Addressing the Chief Minister directly, Lone stated, “To rejig CM sahib’s memory I am attaching the relevant page from NC election manifesto.” He further detailed that the reported 6.8% increase in power tariffs translates to an additional burden of over ₹500 crore on consumers. He highlighted that these consumers had been anticipating the promised 200 units of free electricity per month, a key pledge from the ruling National Conference’s election manifesto.
Lone also pointed out that this was not the first instance of increased costs for consumers. He noted a previous instance where electricity load per household was increased in non-metered areas, resulting in an approximate 10% rise in electricity bills. During election campaigns, he recalled, discussions revolved around the promise of free power, with no mention of tariffs in other states.
The Peoples Conference chairman further elaborated on the discrepancy between election promises and the current situation. He stated that the promise of free power for all had, after the party assumed power, been redefined to apply only to AAY ration card holders, an estimated 200,000 families. Lone calculated that the Chief Minister, having been in power for 22 months, owed each consumer 4,400 units of electricity, equating to ₹11,000. For the 200,000 AAY households, this amounts to ₹2,200 crore.
Lone accused the Chief Minister of owing the people of Jammu and Kashmir ₹2,200 crore while simultaneously imposing a burden of ₹500 crore through tariff hikes. He urged the Chief Minister to exhibit shame and fulfill his obligations, asserting that the affected individuals were among the poorest in the region and had been misled by false promises that contributed to the party’s electoral success.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
