City
Epaper

1984 anti-Sikh riot victims await free power in Delhi

By IANS | Updated: August 21, 2019 18:00 IST

Even as the Delhi government announced 200 units of free electricity for people in the national capital, it is yet to keep its promise of giving free power supply to victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots here.

Open in App

According to data accessed by , free electricity up to 400 units is being provided to only 368 households out of the total 2,274 victim families provided houses by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board.

In his 2019-20 budget speech, Delhi Finance Minister Manish Sisodia had said that since the AAP came to power, 90 per cent of households in Delhi were getting subsidized electricity.

"In addition, a special scheme for exemption of 100 per cent subsidy on domestic power consumption and waiving off all outstanding bills has also been implemented for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots," Sisodia had said.

But government data suggests that only about 15 per cent of the victims have benefitted till March.

When contacted, a Power Department official said the process was underway and the scheme will be extended to all the families soon.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa denounced the slow pace as "unfair".

"The victim families have a right over free electricity. First, they put a cap on the free units and now the benefit has only been given to a few. We have repeatedly demanded that the victim families should be given all their rights," he told .

Some 3,000 Sikhs are known to have been killed in Delhi in the riots that enveloped the city after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

On August 1, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that people in the city will not have to pay anything for consuming up to 200 units of power per month.

For consumption of electricity between 201 and 400 units per month, about 50 per cent subsidy will be provided on the electricity bill, Kejriwal had said.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Manish SisodiaArvind KejriwalDelhi FinanceManjinder Singh SirsaIndira Gandhi
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalArvind Kejriwal Slams Gujarat Govt Over Action Against Farmers, Claims AAP Emerging As 'Real Alternative'

National“We Discussed Election Strategy…Will Do Our Best To Ensure Sudarshan Reddy Wins”: AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal

NationalIndependence Day 2025: PM Modi Delivers 12th Consecutive Speech From Red Fort, Surpasses Indira Gandhi

NationalBihar Assembly Election: BIG Setback to INDIA Alliance as AAP to Contest All Seats Alone (VIDEO)

NationalACB Summons Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain Over Rs 2,000 Crore School Construction

National Realted Stories

NationalIndian Army's Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Department celebrates its Corps Day

NationalCong insulted Bhupen Hazarika, opposed semiconductor industry in Assam: PM Modi

NationalIndia’s biogas sector likely to attract Rs 5,000 crore investment in 2026-27

National'Attempt to mislead nation in the name of MGNREGA': Shivraj Singh Chouhan

NationalSocially backward people in Bengal have limited access to institutional loans: Bankers’ study