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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
'Na bijli ayegi na bill': BJP leader mocks ally Nitish Kumar's poll promise
BJP leader Arvind Kumar Sharma mocked JD(U) ally Nitish Kumar's promise of free electricity in Bihar, saying it would be free only if supplied. 'Na bijli ayegi na bill ayega,' he quipped Uttar Pradesh's Energy and Urban Development Minister, Arvind Kumar Sharma, took a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday over his recent announcement of free electricity. Commenting sarcastically on the scheme, the BJP leader said, 'Electricity is free in Bihar but it will be free only when it will be supplied... na bijli ayegi na bill ayega... free ho gayi. Hum bijli de rhe hain (we are providing the electricity),' as quoted by PTI. VIDEO | Mathura: UP Energy and Urban Development Minister AK Sharma (@aksharmaBharat) on free electricity up to 125 units in Bihar, says, "Electricity is free in Bihar but it will be free only when it will be supplied... na bijli ayegi na bill ayega... free ho gayi. Hum bijli de… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 19, 2025 Bihar approves 125 units of free power The statement comes a day after the Bihar Cabinet on Friday (July 18) approved a plan to provide 125 units of free electricity each month to domestic consumers across the state, starting August 1. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar in Patna. According to a government statement, 'The state government will pay additional ₹3,797 crore on electricity consumption to the Bihar State Power Holding Corporation Ltd for the purpose.' The government -- led by BJP and JD(U) -- also announced that financial support would be given to households for installing 1.1-KW rooftop solar power systems. Solar energy push over next three years CM Kumar added that in the next three years, solar power plants will be set up on rooftops or nearby public spaces with the consent of domestic consumers. 'We have also decided that in the next three years, with the consent of all these domestic consumers, solar power plants will be installed on their rooftops or at nearby public places to provide benefits,' the CM said. For extremely poor households, the state will cover the entire cost of solar panel installations. Other families will receive aid under the Kutir Jyoti scheme. He said this move could help generate up to 10,000 megawatts of solar power within the next three years. Bihar elections: Pre-poll welfare measures The announcements are being seen as part of a broader set of welfare schemes in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections later this year. A day before the electricity announcement, CM Kumar had instructed the Education Department to assess the number of vacant teaching posts and begin preparations for the next Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE) 4. In a post on X, the chief minister said the free electricity plan would benefit nearly 1.67 crore families. 'We have been providing electricity to everyone at affordable rates from the very beginning. Now we have decided that from August 1, 2025, that is, from the July bill itself, all domestic consumers in the state will not have to pay any money for electricity up to 125 units,' he stated. Political dynamics after 2024 general elections It is worth mentioning here that JDU's support became indispensable for the BJP after the 2024 elections. For the first time since 2014, the BJP did not secure a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha in 2024. The Janata Dal (United) emerged as the second-largest ally in the NDA, after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Together, the JDU and TDP became crucial for the NDA to maintain a majority in Parliament and for the BJP to form the government. As a result, Nitish Kumar's political importance has grown, with his party securing more influence both in cabinet posts and in policymaking.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Na Bijli Aayegi, Na Bill Aayega…': UP Energy Minister On Nitish Kumar's Free Electricity Announcement
UP Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma mocked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's promise of free electricity up to 125 units, saying it will be free only if supplied. Uttar Pradesh's Energy and Urban Development Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma on Saturday took a sarcastic jibe over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's announcement of free electricity for up to 125 units ahead of state assembly polls, saying electricity will be free only when it would be supplied. 'Electricity is free in Bihar but it will be free only when it will be supplied… na bijli ayegi na bill ayega… free ho gayi. Hum bijli de rhe hain (Neither electricity will come nor will the bill come… it is free. We are providing electricity)," Sharma said as quoted by news agency PTI in Mathura. The UP minister's remark days after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that every household in Bihar would get 125 units of electricity free of cost starting August 1. Announcing the decision ahead of the state assembly elections, Nitish Kumar on X said, 'From the very beginning, we have been providing electricity to everyone at affordable rates. Now, we have decided that starting from August 1, 2025 — meaning from the July billing cycle — all domestic consumers in the state will not have to pay anything for up to 125 units of electricity." हमलोग शुरू से ही सस्ती दरों पर सभी को बिजली उपलब्ध करा रहे हैं। अब हमने तय कर दिया है कि 1 अगस्त, 2025 से यानी जुलाई माह के बिल से ही राज्य के सभी घरेलू उपभोक्ताओं को 125 यूनिट तक बिजली का कोई पैसा नहीं देना पड़ेगा। इससे राज्य के कुल 1 करोड़ 67 लाख परिवारों को लाभ होगा। हमने यह…— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 17, 2025 The Chief Minister further added that the decision will benefit a total of 1.67 crore families across Bihar. The Bihar CM also promised that in the next three years, solar power panels will be installed on the rooftops of residents after taking their permission, to provide further benefit. 'We have also decided that within the next three years, after obtaining consent from these domestic consumers, solar power plants will be installed either on their rooftops or at nearby public places to provide further benefits," he added in the post. In the poll-bound state, Kumar has so far made several big announcements. Earlier, on July 16, the Chief Minister asked the Education Department to lay the ground for the fourth instalment of the Teacher Recruitment Exam (TRE) by the Bihar Public Service Commission, under which more than one lakh teachers would be recruited. Similarly, on July 13, he promised to provide jobs and employment opportunities to one crore youths in the next five years (2025-2030). (With inputs from agencies) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
On locals' power cut complains, UP minister's ‘Jai Shri Ram' chants, then a clarification
Uttar Pradesh energy minister Arvind Kumar Sharma is facing backlash on social media after a video of his interaction with people complaining about power outage in Sultanpur district went viral. UP minister Arvind Kumar Sharma was in Surapur area of Sultanpur district where he was meeting locals.(X) The UP minister was interacting with locals in Bijethua Hanuman Dham in Surapur area of Sultanpur district, when several residents reached out to him complaining of power outages in the area. "We are very distressed. The entire area is affected. We are only getting three hours of electricity," a local can be heard saying in the video. Also Read: One Mayday alert, focus on fuel control switches: What is known so far about Air India crash Another resident interrupts, 'We are getting three hours of electricity in 24 hours.' However, Sharma remained unmoved despite repeated pleas by the locals. The minister, instead of offering any verbal assurance, started chanting, "Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bajrang Bali" with folded hands. He then sat in his car and left the place. The minister's video received criticism on social media, with several users accusing him of being 'insensitive' and neglecting people's concerns. Also Read: '1 of 4 bullets shot went through-and-through': What tennis player Radhika Yadav's autopsy says Following the outrage, AK Sharma, took to X, to clarify that he calmly listened to the problems and has shared their grievance with the official concerned. "Yesterday, during my visit near Surapur (Bijethua Hanuman Dham) in Sultanpur district, some people stopped to greet me respectfully and also raised concerns about electricity issues. I patiently, attentively, and calmly listened to their problems and assured them of appropriate action," the minister said in the social media post. "The actual status of electricity supply in the district has been shared with the public by Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, and I have also shared it," he added. The UP minister also said that the state has been receiving the highest electricity supply for the last three years. He added that UP has received more electricity than any other state in the country in the last three years.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Min asked to provide more autonomy to municipal corporation
Kanpur: The Corporators Welfare Association of Kanpur Municipal Corporation on Wednesday presented their stand on three key issues before urban development minister Arvind Kumar Sharma and principal secretary, urban development Amrit Abhijat. The discussions took place on the Sambhav portal, with municipal commissioner Kanpur Nagar, Sudhir Kumar, also in attendance to submit KMC's standpoint. According to the KMC officials, a meeting was previously conducted between the urban development minister, and Naveen Pandit, president of the Corporators Welfare Association, along with patron Amit Pandey on June 16 at Lucknow. The Association had provided three written submissions to the minister during the meeting. The Association emphasised that the disputes between the KMC and Kanpur Development Authority are forwarded to the commissioner, Kanpur division, where decisions are consistently made in favour of KDA because the commissioner is also the chairman of KDA. The Association has requested appointment of a different officer, instead of the commissioner for resolving disputes between KMC and KDA. The second issue raised relates to the sewage farm. The municipal corporation possesses 1200 acres of sewage farm land, which officially belongs to it. However, KDA has approved two projects for this land during its board meeting. Despite the fact that this land's use cannot be changed due to a previous order from the Allahabad high court, KDA is allegedly proceeding with these projects without adhering to the court's decision. Further disputes regarding land have also emerged in the Smart City project. KDA has been granted rights over land from the gram samaj and Improvement Trust, an arrangement unique to Kanpur and not found in the other 16 municipal corporations. It was highlighted that cities in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are advancing. Kanpur, formerly the largest city in Uttar Pradesh, has now fallen behind. The Association attributes this setback to Kanpur Municipal Corporation's lack of authority. Regarding these three issues, the Welfare Association had submitted its position and urged that authority be granted to municipal corporations, Naveen Pandit said.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Power engineers challenge privatisation push
Lucknow: The Vidyut Karamchari Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti has intensified its 196-day protest against privatisation, challenging power minister Arvind Kumar Sharma's push for private sector involvement. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Samiti has even invited the minister to a power mahapanchayat on June 22 in Lucknow, urging him to explain the benefits of privatisation to farmers, consumers, and workers. They dismissed the minister's claims of better private sector technology and management, pointing out that line losses have already dropped from 40% to 16.5% under the RDSS scheme, with Rs 44,000 crore invested in infrastructure. "Why privatise when we are close to the 15% target?" asked Shailendra Dubey, the Samiti's convenor, alleging a Rs 1.1 lakh crore loss due to poor management.
