The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fired broadside at the BJP for massive corruption in supplying overpriced electricity in its ruled states, pointing out undue favoritism towards PM Modi’s ‘friend’ Adani.
Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh contrasted Arvind Kejriwal’s free electricity schemes in Delhi and Punjab with Prime Minister Modi’s blatant collusion, claiming that tenders for thousands of electricity units in Maharashtra and Rajasthan were manipulated to benefit Adani, ignoring Supreme Court orders.
Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, in a press conference, said, “The BJP government at the centre is systematically looting the people across the country in the name of electricity. Arvind Kejriwal has provided 200 units of free electricity in Delhi, and in Punjab, the AAP government is giving 300 units of free electricity. While the AAP governments are offering free electricity to the people, the BJP is openly burning their pockets in the name of electricity.”
The senior AAP leader continued, “Before the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections came into force, the Maharashtra government issued a tender in March 2024 to supply 6,600 Megawatts (MW) of electricity. It was the first time in India’s history that a mixed tender was issued, requiring electricity from both thermal and solar sources simultaneously. Typically, separate contracts are issued for thermal and solar power.”
The AAP Rajya Sabha MP also pointed out that, in 2014, the Supreme Court directed that competition in electricity contracts should be increased to provide cheaper electricity to the public. This directive was given to the Modi government, and with the BJP’s ‘double-engine’ government in Maharashtra, PM Modi disregarded the Apex Court’s order and decided there should be no competition.
“A tender was issued for 5,000 MW of solar power and 1,600 MW of thermal power, but only a few individuals in the country have the capacity to supply such large amounts of electricity,” he added.
Sanjay Singh further added that these 2-3 ‘selected’ individuals submitted bids, and in September, the tender was awarded to PM Modi’s closest ‘friend’ Adani, granting him the contract for 25 years. “PM Modi and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde should explain how Adani was given a free hand to exploit the people of Maharashtra. In the next 25 years, crores of rupees will be siphoned from the people of Maharashtra in the name of electricity,” reasoned the AAP MP.
Stating on the electricity contract in Rajasthan, Sanjay Singh said that PM Modi’s friend Adani was asked to sign an MoU with the Rajasthan government for an electricity contract. Adani already has a thermal power plant in Rajasthan, and he was asked to apply to the government to expand the thermal power plant by up to 3200 megawatts. The paperwork will be taken care of. Additionally, Adani was asked to sign an MoU with the Rajasthan government to set up an 8,000 MW solar power plant.
“Along with applying for the expansion of the thermal power plant, Adani also signed an MoU with the Rajasthan government for the solar power plant. After the application and signing of the MoU, the Rajasthan government, just like the Maharashtra government, issued a mixed tender. This flouted the Supreme Court’s 2014 order, which instructed the promotion of competition in the electricity sector. By issuing the tender, the Rajasthan government stated that it needed 11,200 MW of electricity from both solar and thermal sources combined,” stated the senior AAP leader.
Sanjay Singh said that the Rajasthan government signed an MoU with Adani beforehand and applied for clearance to set up the plant. And after that, the tender was issued, and now bids will be submitted. The field has been fully set, and now in Rajasthan too, this contract will be given to PM Modi’s friend, Adani. After that the people of Rajasthan will also be looted for the next 25 years. In Maharashtra, the tender has already been awarded to Adani, and preparations have been made to give him the tender in Rajasthan as well.
He further added that the BJP is doing organized corruption with the citizens of the country. The BJP, along with its friends, is looting the nation. PM Narendra Modi, CM Eknath Shinde, and Bhajan Lal together are all set to loot lakhs of crores from the public in the name of electricity for the next 25 years in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
“It is apparent who is responsible for this. And the thief is standing in front of the public, but no action will be taken against him because the thief himself is acting as the judge. There will be no investigation by the ED-CBI, or Income Tax on them. The people of the country will have to decide, on one side is Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP, which provides free electricity. And on the other side is the BJP, which creates an open environment of looting,” added the AAP MP.
During this, senior AAP leader Reena Gupta said that when we build a house, we look around and source materials for the cheapest price. In Maharashtra and Rajasthan, documents were prepared in such a way that only PM Modi’s friend Adani can supply electricity generated from solar and thermal energy. An additional condition was imposed in Rajasthan that the plant must be located within Rajasthan.
“Today, there are power grids spread out across the country, and electricity can be generated anywhere and supplied throughout the country. Our aim should be to provide the cheapest electricity to benefit consumers, and not that only Adani benefits,” mentioned the senior AAP leader.
“On one side, Arvind Kejriwal is trying to save every citizen’s money. In Delhi, 200 units of electricity are free, while in Mumbai, the bill for 200 units is Rs 3,000, and in Jaipur, it is Rs. 2,500. On the other hand, PM Modi is bent on ensuring that the hard-earned money of the people goes into the pockets of his friend Adani,” affirmed Reena Gupta.