Don’t fall into BJP’s trap, AAP’s Manish Sisodia tells Himachal residents

Just hours after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur announced 125 units of free power in the state, senior AAP leader accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of giving freebies out of fear of losing the coming assembly elections.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister cautioned the people of the hill state against falling “into BJP’s trap.”  He urged the people to vote for AAP in the coming elections.

“The truth is if the BJP forms the government in Himachal Pradesh again, it will withdraw all such freebies as it has made electricity, bus fares, etc., expensive in other states. The BJP has never believed in the concept of providing things to people at a cheaper rate,” Hindustan Times quoted Sisodia as saying.

‘BJP fears AAP’

He said that the AAP’s intention of fighting Himachal elections has put the fear in BJP government and that’s why it is announcing freebies.

Sisodia’s attack on BJP followed announcement by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on the occasion of Himachal Day that residents of the state will get 125 units of electricity for free. This, he added, will benefit 11.5 lakh families. “Families utilising zero to 125 units of electricity will not have to pay bills,” he said. Also, water bills will be waived off in rural areas and women will have to pay only 50 per cent fare for bus tickets, Thakur added.

Political tussle

Elections in Himachal Pradesh are scheduled to be held later this year. AAP, riding high on its win in neighbouring Punjab, is aiming for the power in Himachal too by defeating the ruling BJP and its traditional rival, the Congress. On Wednesday, AAP admitted a senior BJP leader and two others in the party.

“I am joining the Aam Aadmi Party because I was fed with the policy of the BJP. I have joined this party because I am impressed with Arvind Kejriwal’s work and ideology,” Harmel Dhiman, a former national executive member of the BJP’s Scheduled Caste Morcha, said. A day later, Sisodia said that at least 1,000 local leaders in Himachal Pradesh would join AAP and big names of the saffron party were in touch with Arvind Kejriwal.