New Delhi: Former Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma on Friday sat on an indefinite hunger strike at Mohan Garden here claiming that the roll back of the power rates by the DERC is a bluff with the public and demanded immediate withdrawl of the order.
"DERC issued an order on Thursday night on its website without any information to the public. Under attacks from all sides it has put the order under review and has still not withdrawn the order.
"I demand that the signatory of the order should immediately withdraw the order on its website failing which I would continue my indefinite hunger strike," the former MLA from Uttam Nagar said.
DERC last night had announced re-introduction of the power purchase adjustment cost(PPAC) surcharge to effect an increase of tariff by upto seven per cent from Saturday.
Sharma also alleged that DERC being an independent body is being influenced by BJP and termed review of the order as a political gimmick to gain votes in the upcoming Delhi polls.
"The BJP had promised that it would reduce the power rates in Delhi but instead it has hiked the power rates even when the prices of fuel is decreasing globally. The order is kept under review and will remain in the same state until the Delhi Elections are not conducted. Once they are over, the power rates will be hiked again," he said.
He accused the Lieutenant Governer of bluffing the people along with BJP and cautioned the Delhi Police to face the consequences if the order was not withdrawn.
Sharma accused the Delhi Police of creating a fortress in the Mohan Garden area and highlighted the problems being faced by the residents of the area. Around 50-60 police constables were deployed at the scene.
"Delhi Police has created a fortress in the area and you can see the amount of forces being deployed in the area. The residents area have to face a lot of difficulty," he said.
However, the police denied the allegations saying people are moving with ease. It claimed that the police is prepared to face all the situations.
There was an anger among the residents of the area present at the strike against the sitting MLA from BJP. They alleged of high water with no or minimum supply of water.
"We do not get water. We have been using the groundwater and buying water from the market to sustain. Inspite of this we are getting water bills as high as 54,000. Water department does not come to take the reading and sends us high bills," Mrs John, a resident of the area, said.
