CHHATTISGARH Pradesh Congress Committee president Deepak Baij on Friday announced that the party would launch an agitation against the Sai-led BJP government from August 1, demanding withdrawal of the power tariff hike and smart meters, along with restoration of the half electricity bill scheme for consumption up to 400 units. Addressing a press conference at the Congress state headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, Baij said the protest would begin with press conferences in all districts on August 1 to oppose the increase in electricity charges and press for rollback of the revised rates. He said Congress workers would then conduct a door-to-door campaign from August 2, collecting applications for removal of smart meters and signatures on protest letters against the tariff hike.

 

The campaign will continue for two months, after which the party will gherao district electricity offices and later stage a protest outside CM’s residence, which also houses the Energy Department. Baij said that the BJP government had increased electricity rates by 30 to 50 paise for domestic consumers, 20 to 40 paise for non-domestic users and 40 paise for agricultural pump sets since July. He claimed this was the fifth consecutive hike after the BJP came to power. He demanded that the state government reduce power tariffs, restore the half-bill scheme for consumption up to 400 units and withdraw smart meters. Citing decisions by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and in Tamil Nadu, Baij said Chhattisgarh should also roll back the smart meter scheme in the public interest. State Congress in-charge general secretary Malkit Singh Gaindu, State Congress Media Chief Sushil Anand Shukla and other leaders were present.