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Nagpur News.
Despite all hues and cries made in Nagpur over excessive billing and faulty meters, not a single political leader from the city raised the much related issue of citizens during the ongoing assembly session. Earlier leaders like state BJP President Devendra Fadnavis and BJP MLA Vikas Kumbhare made tall claims of opposing the erring SNDL tooth and nail. On the contrary none of the leaders either voiced the concern of lakh of Nagpur residents in Mumbai or attended the meter check conducted by MSEDCL. This let MSEDCL to pronounce those meters as working good which it had termed malfunctioning a day before.
When Nagpur Today got into the skin of the situation, the words of clarification were poured out indiscreetly by the so called people’s representatives who backed off from its promise of ridding the citizens of the clutches of erratic SNDL.
In his clarification, East Nagpur MLA and city BJP President Krishna Khopde said, “Before starting of the Monsoon Session of Maharashtra Assembly, several questions, to be raised in the House, were sought from the MLAs by the Assembly Speaker. Subsequently, the BJP MLAs from Nagpur sent the questions including the call attention motion over Spanco issue. The issues are discussed during the certain period of assembly session and that too, when the speaker permits them. The BJP MLAs from Nagpur discussed the Spanco issue with the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also Energy Minister, and Minister of State for Energy Rajendra Mulak. The MLAs reiterated their demands against Spanco like cancellation of agreement with the private company who is on robbing and harassing “mission” to Nagpur consumers. In the last 8-10 days, we have collected more than 1000 power bills with exorbitant amount. Our party MLAs from city would be meeting the Energy Minister Ajit Pawar and would apprise him of the nagging problem and torturing of consumers by Spanco.”
Central Nagpur BJP MLA Vikas Kumbhare, who created stir in political circles and in Nagpur by storming the Spanco headquarters with hundreds of angry consumers too spelled out his statement in similar tone. He said, “First three days of assembly session witnessed no business worth the attention. However, coming Monday or Tuesday, the Spanco issue would be raised through a call attention motion. All the Nagpur BJP MLAs, under the leadership of President of State unit of BJP Devendra Fadnavis, met the Energy Minister Ajit Pawar and demanded cancellation of the agreement with Spanco and handing over of Nagpur power supply to Mahavitaran (MSEDCL) afresh. Similarly, we demanded installation of old power meters in place of forcibly installed Spanco meters. The inflated bills should be prepared as per old meters because the consumers are not at all ready to pay the exorbitant bills. The BJP MLAs would aggressively pursue the issue if it is tabled in the House, and would force the Speaker to decide the Spanco matter in favour of Nagpur citizens.”
Nagpur Today Outlook
Citizens in Nagpur have little faith in the promises made by these leaders as they remarkably failed to fulfill it on previous occasions too. We also decline to buy the permission theory of these leaders as opposition parties are known to raise public-oriented issues without notice and without warning. Even Houses were stalled for days on many issues, forget about waiting for the turn to come. Stormy sessions over 2G scam are the testimony to this fact. Parliament could not function for staggering 16 days over the scam. Devendra Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, could have united all the BJP MLAs and stalled the House over the burning Spanco issue. Now, the Nagpur citizens would not be fooled by sweet clarification words. They want actions. Let’s wait till Monday and see how the drama unfolds.
