Bengaluru, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : Political tensions are escalating in Karnataka as the opposition intensifies its criticism of the state government over a significant electricity shortage. R. Ashok, the leader of the opposition and a senior BJP figure, accused the government on Saturday of failing to manage the power demands, resulting in widespread darkness across the state.
Ashok specifically targeted Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Energy Minister K.J. George, claiming they failed to anticipate the rising electricity demand and make adequate preparations. He described the state government as lacking foresight, poorly planned, and ineffective, noting that continuous power outages have caused considerable distress among the people of Karnataka.
He highlighted that the state’s electricity demand has surged to nearly 20,000 megawatts and questioned why the government did not prepare for this despite indications of a weakening southwest monsoon. “Did the government not have the foresight to take precautionary measures when the monsoon began to weaken?” he asked.
Ashok further alleged that the government was shirking its responsibilities by citing technical reasons for the increased electricity demand. “Due to your incompetence, inaction, and irresponsibility, the entire state is grappling with power shortages and erratic supply,” he stated, asserting that residents, especially during peak hours in the evening, are facing regular outages.
He criticized the government’s decision to purchase only 200 megawatts of electricity, arguing that this was insufficient given the demand of 20,000 megawatts. Ashok claimed the government was misleading the public by presenting the purchase of 100 megawatts each from Assam and Jindal as a solution to the crisis.
“When demand is at 20,000 megawatts, how can you claim to manage the situation with just 200 megawatts?” he questioned. He also raised concerns about the energy department’s lack of preparedness, noting that no prior electricity purchase agreements were made despite early signs of potential shortages following the weak monsoon.
In a pointed remark about the Congress party’s promise of free electricity, Ashok quipped, “Those who distributed guarantee cards for free electricity are now giving the people of Karnataka a guarantee of ‘free darkness’.”
He emphasized that the electricity shortage is severely impacting farmers, hindering their access to water, while businesses and industries struggle to operate. He added that students are unable to study due to the lack of power. Ashok warned that if immediate action is not taken, public anger will escalate, posing a serious challenge for the Congress party.
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