New Delhi: The AAP government on Tuesday rebutted criticism by the BJP on the issue of Rs 91,000 power bill at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence, saying it included electricity charges for a camp office and various other facilities installed for visitors at the complex.
In a statement, the government said the monthly electricity expenditure at the Chief Minister's residence at 6, Flag Staff Road in Civil Lines area is around Rs 15,000 which is "nowhere close" to the figure being reported.
The Delhi BJP has slammed Kejriwal for "high power bills" and accused him of spending public money for personal comfort. "Kejriwal has two faces. One face is to show to the poor people and another for enjoying all the facilities. Kejriwal is spending public money for personal use."
Responding to an RTI application, the government had earlier said that the electricity charges at Kejriwal's residence for April and May was about Rs 91,000.
Giving a break-up of the bills for last three months, the government said the electricity charges for March was Rs 17,000, it was Rs 7,370 in April and Rs 22,690 in May.
The government said a portion of the premises was allocated as the "private residence of the Chief Minister and separate electricity connection was installed for the same.
"The General Administration Department created some facilities for the Janta Samvad, office work and other peripheral activities relating to function of Chief Minister's office in the same premises. Separate electricity connection was installed for this portion," the government said.
The electricity charges for this portion in March was Rs 15,175, Rs 48,630 in April while for May it is yet to be paid, according to the statement.
Power Minister Satyender Jain said a number of other bills for electricity consumption in the residential premises have been clubbed with actual power consumption at the actual residence.
"The electricity bill which is being reported is not of the CM's residence alone. It comprises the place where he holds the janta durbar and other offices," said AAP leader and Dwarka MLA Adarsh Shastri.
Party's Rajouri Garden MLA Jarnail Singh, said, "He is people's chief minister. Around 300 people come to meet him in the hall where he holds Janta Durbar. Is he expected to make people sit in that hall in such scorching heat and humidity?" Singh asked.
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