LUCKNOW: Accusing the BJP of ‘failure to check the spread of Covid-19 infection in rural areas’, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the government is trying to settle scores with the village folks for supporting the SP in the recently concluded panchayat elections. He also attacked the government for recommending a power tariff hike of up to 12%, that too at a time when power consumers are struggling with their businesses and the common man is finding it hard to arrange two meals a day.
“BJP is rattled by the manner in which the people in villages supported SP in panchayat polls and it seems the government is trying to find an opportunity in pandemic and settle scores with the voters,” Akhilesh said in a statement.
He said BJP’s faulty policies and intent has brought the state and its economy to a standstill. People don’t have a source of livelihood, youth don’t have jobs, businessmen don’t have business and farmers are fighting Covid-19. The widespread misery and pain that has now engulfed the rural populace has led to resentment which is growing by the day, he said.
Instead of extending relief, the government is all set to burden the middle-class with a hike in power tariff. This explains that the government is more concerned about the profits of a handful of industrialists and not even bothered about how common man and small traders will sustain their livelihood. “The state government and the power corporation want a regulatory surcharge on power consumers of all the categories. This will lead to an increase in cost of power by up to 12%,” he said. “It seems that the mantra of changing a crisis into an opportunity mooted by the BJP for industrialists may have been rejected by the people, it has been welcomed by the government with open arms,” he added.
