Arvind Kejriwal blames BJP for power crisis in Delhi

New Delhi: AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday came down heavily on the ruling BJP at the Centre, saying it is responsible for the ongoing power crisis in the national capital. Continuing the attack on BJP, Kejriwal also said that neither it is able to handle the power crisis nor allowing fresh elections in Delhi.

"BJP (is) neither able to handle power crisis nor forming government nor allowing elections in Delhi. Completely irresponsible," the former Delhi Chief Minister tweeted.

Delhi has been reeling under long power cuts which prompted AAP and Congress to protest against the BJP, which is in power at the Centre. On the issue of power crises, over 20 AAP MLAs on Tuesday staged a protest outside Union Minister Harsh Vardhan's house in East Delhi demanding urgent steps by the Centre to improve electricity supply in the city.

Senior leader Manish Sisodia said it was the responsibility of the Centre to ensure proper governance including facilitating basic amenities to the people in the city as Delhi is currently under Central rule.

"BJP is in power at the Centre and Vardhan is a Union Minister as well as Delhi BJP President. It is the responsibility of the ruling party at the Centre to address the problem of power supply in Delhi," Sisodia, who led the AAP MLAs to Vardhan's house, told reporters.

He also said that 22 AAP legislators came to Vardhan's residence and submitted a memorandum to his personal staff. Former AAP ministers Satyendra Jain, Somnath Bharti, Girish Soni and Saurav Bhardwaj were among the AAP MLAs who held a protest.

The AAP MLAs came at around 8.30 AM, held a symbolic protest, submitted the memorandum and left after a while. Vardhan had left his residence around ten minutes before the AAP MLAs reached his place. Delhi has been reeling under long power cuts ranging from one to six hours for over a week after a devastating storm severely damaged major power transmission lines across the city.

Congress as well as AAP have been targeting BJP for the power cuts, saying the Central government cannot escape responsibility. Vardhan later rejected the criticism, saying Congress and AAP should share the responsibility for the power situation in the city.

"Congress was in power for 15 years. The AAP was in power for 49 days. They are to be blamed for the situation not the BJP as our party has not come to power in Delhi yet," Vardhan said.