As Sukhu surrenders free electricity subsidy, Jai Ram criticises moves as ‘backward and irrational’ decision

Comparing the Congress-led government with Jaspal Bhatti’s satirical comedy show “Ulta Pulta”, he criticised its “backward and irrational” decisions.

Thakur alleged that the Congress government had halted even the 125-unit electricity subsidy the previous BJP government introduced.

“Domestic consumers in Himachal pay Rs 5.60 per unit, of which Rs 3.53 was subsidised earlier. Now, the government offers a negligible subsidy of Rs 2.07 for the first 125 units and even less for higher usage brackets,” he said.

Demanding Sukhu’s resignation on moral grounds, Thakur asked the chief minister to seek a fresh mandate from the people. He also criticised heavy taxes on industries and described the government’s two-year tenure as a “complete failure”, citing controversies such as the “samosa investigation”, “wild rooster taxation”, and “toilet fee” decisions by the Shimla Municipal Corporation.

“The state government aims to save nearly Rs 750 crore in burden on the state exchequer by rolling back the free subsidy on the first 125 electricity units. Instead of withdrawing the 125 units of subsidy, Sukhu decided to urge self-reliant people, who are not under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, to surrender their subsidies. He took the initiative himself, becoming the first person in the state to voluntarily surrender his subsidy. He has a private home in the Chhota Shimla area of the state capital. There are five electricity meters in his name. Yesterday, he surrendered his subsidies,” one of the nominee directors of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) told The Indian Express.

“Subsidies should be for the underprivileged and BPL individuals. The feedback received from the ground suggests that there is a large number of people who have more than 10 electricity meters registered in their names and are receiving subsidies on all meters,” an HPSEBL official said.

On Wednesday, Sukhu voluntarily surrendered a subsidy on all five electricity meters registered in his name. He submitted the required form to HPSEBL Chairman Sanjay Gupta and urged well-off individuals to follow suit via the electricity online portal of the board, by calling helpline numbers 1100 or 1912, or by visiting their nearest electricity sub-division.

Sukhu had said all Cabinet members and Congress MLAs in the state agreed to forgo their subsidies following a detailed discussion. He said the government spends Rs. 2,200 crore annually on electricity subsidies and Rs 200 crore monthly on salaries and pensions of electricity board employees. He said subsidies should be reserved for the needy and well-off individuals must contribute towards building a fairer society.