Chandigarh: AAP boycotts mayor's ‘hollow' Swachh Survekshan tea, slams 12% power tariff hike
The AAP said the BJP mayoral candidate was wrongfully claiming credit for the Swachh Survekshan rankings, achieved under former AAP mayor Kuldeep Kumar, and that the celebrations are being done 'amid broken roads, waterlogging, unsafe drinking water, and toxic leachate from Dadumajra entering residential areas is an insult to public pain'.
'We stand with citizens struggling with roads, water and toxic waste, not with those holding hollow celebrations,' the party said in a statement issued by state media incharge Vikrant A Tanwar.
Separately, AAP leaders led by the party's city president Vijaypal Singh protested the JERC-approved 12 per cent power tariff hike during a public hearing in Sector 10, submitting a memorandum to the commission's chairperson. They called the hike 'a direct assault on public interest' and said privatisation of the profitable electricity department had turned into 'a blunder.'
The AAP pointed out that the erstwhile government-run department posted Rs 258.85-crore profit in 2020–2021, but its private operator, Chandigarh Power Distribution Ltd (CPDL), has now projected Rs 158.0-crore revenue gap for 2025–26 and losses of Rs 982 crore over the next five years, all without an independent audit.
The party also alleged a decline in service quality since privatisation, citing more outages, inflated bills, arbitrary disconnections and poor grievance redressal. 'People are paying more for worse services — this is robbery, not reform,' Singh said, demanding an immediate rollback of the hike, an independent audit of CPDL, a public performance review, and at least 200 free units for domestic users.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
6 minutes ago
- India Today
Centre to launch job incentive scheme on August 1, targets 3.5 crore jobs
The Government of India is set to roll out a new employment-linked incentive scheme, named the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY), from August 1, 2025. The Labour Ministry confirmed the launch of the scheme in an official statement on Friday. This move aims to boost employment opportunities in the country by directly supporting new job creation across multiple scheme was earlier approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With an ambitious goal of creating over 3.5 crore jobs in two years, the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana has a financial outlay of Rs 99,446 crore. Out of the total, around 1.92 crore beneficiaries will be entering the workforce for the first time. The benefits of this scheme will apply to jobs generated between August 1, 2025, and July 31, scheme reflects the government's commitment to inclusive and sustainable employment generation under the broader Viksit Bharat initiative. By encouraging employers to hire more staff and offering benefits to first-time workers, the scheme plays a crucial role in India's strategy to drive economic growth through employment-led scheme has two components. Part A is designed for first-time employees, while Part B is for employers. Under Part A, employees who are new to the workforce and registered with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will receive one month's EPF wage, up to Rs 15,000, in two separate instalments. To qualify, their monthly salary must not exceed Rs 1 lakh. The first instalment will be paid after six months of continuous service, and the second after completing one year of service along with a financial literacy programme. A portion of this incentive will be saved in a deposit account to encourage savings, which the employee can withdraw A will apply to jobs created across all sectors, with special emphasis on Part B of the scheme, employers will be incentivised for each additional employee they hire with a monthly salary of up to Rs 1 lakh. The government will provide up to Rs 3,000 per month per employee for two years. For the manufacturing sector, this support will extend to the third and fourth years as be eligible, EPFO-registered establishments must hire at least two additional employees (if they currently have fewer than 50 employees) or five additional employees (if they have 50 or more) and retain them for a minimum of six under Part A will be made directly to the employees via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode using the Aadhar Bridge Payment System (ABPS). Meanwhile, employers will receive incentives in their PAN-linked new employment-linked scheme is a significant step towards generating long-term employment and supporting economic growth in the country.- Ends advertisement
India Today
19 minutes ago
- India Today
What is 'Golf Force One', the armoured buggy spotted with Trump in Scotland?
US President Donald Trump's visit to Scotland's Turnberry during the weekend turned heads for more than one reason. As Trump enjoyed a game of golf in South Ayrshire, a heavily armoured black golf cart was spotted tailing him throughout the social media users were quick to spot the new addition to Trump's security detail, dubbing it the "Golf Force One". It sparked intrigue as well as comparisons to "The Beast", the bulletproof and blast-resistant limousine used to transport US presidents. advertisementThe golf cart, a reinforced Polaris Ranger XP, was likely deployed to serve as a getaway vehicle for the President in case of an attack. Already, Trump's visit to Scotland has drawn protests over his views on climate change and the Gaza war and a bomb threat. Moreover, alleged assassination attempts on Trump last year saw the US Secret Service take no as Trump teed off at the Turnberry golf course on Saturday, what stole the show was the jet-black reinforced golf cart - standing out amid a posse of army trucks and IS GOLF FORCE ONE?Experts said the distinctive black band around the windscreen of the vehicle indicated that it was 100% armoured, The Telegraph reported."The windscreen is a giveaway, as are the side panels, doors and the large panel at the rear above the load tray," said Gary Relf, the director of Armoured Car experts emphasised that the vehicle was for defensive, and not offensive purposes. Relf said the tinted windows indicated the addition of robust transparent despite the heavy armoury, the buggy is light enough to not damage the golf the Polaris Ranger XP costs around 20,000 (Rs 24 lakh). However, the heavily-modified version as seen alongside Trump will have cost far vehicles are widely used in the UK by rural police teams. The company also supplies military vehicles to US law security has been ramped up after he survived a pair of assassination attempts last September 15 last year, a man was spotted with a rifle at Trump's West Palm Beach in Florida. Two months ago, Trump survived another attempt on his life during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.- Ends
Hans India
36 minutes ago
- Hans India
CM: Karnataka ranks number one in per capita income among states
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday asserted that 'due to the implementation of the five guarantee schemes by our government, Karnataka has become number one in the country in terms of per capita income'. He also claimed that BJP leaders do not understand economics. He was speaking at the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of various development works and a beneficiaries' meeting held in the Arasikere Assembly constituency. 'Karnataka is now ranked number one in the country in terms of per capita income. The main reason for this is the increased purchasing power of the people. And the increase in purchasing power is a direct result of our guarantee schemes. BJP leaders don't understand economics. That's why they're spreading false propaganda claiming that the state government has no money for development. Even if they try to mislead the people with politically motivated lies, the people of Karnataka will not be fooled,' CM Siddaramaiah asserted. He said that in the government's performance review meetings, lakhs of beneficiaries had come forward to express their gratitude, which proved that the Congress government had delivered on its promises. He further explained that while Rs 1.20 lakh crore had been allocated for developmental projects, Rs 56,000 crore was being spent on guarantee schemes to deliver development directly to people's doorsteps. Speaking about the national-level conference of backward communities held in Delhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had clearly expressed his understanding of the issues faced by backward communities. He stated that the Congress government had formulated programs for the uplift of Backward Classes, women, Dalits, the oppressed, and the poor from all castes. CM Siddaramaiah stated that Congress was the only party that designed and implemented programmes aimed at achieving social justice, uplifting the poor, and upholding the values of the Constitution. He challenged the BJP to look at history and see that only the Congress had consistently worked to implement social justice, both in the state and at the national level. He praised local Arasikere MLA Shivalingegowda, saying he was focused on both carrying out people-centric development works in the constituency and presenting the party and government's pro-people initiatives effectively in the Legislative Assembly. Expressing confidence, he said that Shivalingegowda, already elected four times, will definitely win again in the next election.
