Free power, water in Delhi: AAP to give guarantee cards

NEW DELHI: As free schemes take centre stage ahead of Delhi assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is planning to give guarantee cards to the people of the national capital. The cards will guarantee people 200 units of free electricity and 20,000 litres of free water per month for the next five years, apart from free bus ride for women and free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens. The party is also mulling appointment of “mohalla marshals” in several areas to make them secure.
The guarantee cards will be delivered to the residents in all 70 assembly constituencies well before the assembly polls, which are scheduled to take place on February 8. AAP Rajya Sabha MP ND Gupta said that the guarantee cards and the party’s poll manifestos are likely to be distributed separately. We are planning to distribute guarantee cards before the manifestos, sources said.
Gupta said that the appointment of “mohalla marshals” may find a mention in the party’s manifesto. “These marshals would be deployed as security persons in various mohallas and would be paid by the government for their services.”
Free welfare schemes of the AAP government have found many supporters in Delhi. In a bid to capitalise on the love of people for the free schemes, Delhi Congress has also announced that if elected to power, the party will give monthly 600 units of electricity and 20,000 litres of water free.
AAP and BJP functionaries have been locking horns over the free welfare schemes of late. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders have repeatedly claimed that the saffron party would stop free services like electricity, water and bus rides for women, if it came to power in Delhi. AAP MP Sanjay Singh had on Wednesday got into a confrontation with BJP parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir on the issue. “BJP functionary Anil Jain had said that his party was against any kind of free services to people. Now, Gambhir has contradicted the claims made by Manoj Tiwari,” Singh said.
Hitting out at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Gambhir had said that he was not against free services for poor, but those who could afford them should pay nominal charges. Singh alleged that BJP leaders were continuously opposing the free welfare schemes of the AAP government.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari has, however, clarified that no existing subsidy started by the AAP government would be altered. On Thursday, he again slammed AAP leaders who have been claiming that BJP would stop the free welfare schemes if it came to power in Delhi.
“AAP leaders are habitual liars and always twist the facts to suit their interests. After coming to power, BJP will give five times the benefits given by the AAP government. Several central schemes that were stopped by the AAP government, would benefit people” Tiwari said.