According to the decision about the power bills the Government has decided to include beneficiaries who consume up to 150 units of energy per month under Indira Gandhi Jyoti Yojana (IGJY). About 56 lakh families registered under Sambhal scheme were paying only Rs. 100 for consumption of 100 units of electricity. State Government will bear a burden of approximately Rs. 770 crore per annum for the entire scheme.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting minister for energy Priyavrat Singh said, “From February this year, the government was running a scheme to benefit people registered under Sambhal Yojana. Beneficiaries had to pay Rs. 100 for 100 unit of one kilowatt power. However it was felt that more families in the state deserve to be brought under the power subsidy scheme and it has been decided to increase the purview of the scheme to include consumers who use up to 150 units of electricity per month”.

The minister said that all consumers who use up to 150 units of power will get the benefit of Rs. 100 per 100 units of electricity. Even if someone is consuming 150 units, the first 100 units will be charged at Rs. 100 only. The remaining 50 units will be charged at the existing regular tariff rate”. Priyavrat Singh explained. “No extra cess or service charge will be levied” he said. When a consumer consumes more than 150 units of power he or she would cease to get benefit of the scheme.

The cabinet also approved the proposal to increase upper age limit for direct recruitment in government services to 40 years. To protect job rights of domicile of MP, state government has added as rider in it. This benefit will be given only to those applicants who will register at MP Employment Office.

Meanwhile the controversy kicked up by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan when he called Jawahar Lal Nehru a criminal, has been revived by Bhopal BJP MP Pragya Thakur. Pragya has supported Chouhan and said it was a just remark. She said that those who support PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah on the Kashmir issue are patriots.

Asked about Chouhan’s remarks on Nehru, Pragya said “He is national office-bearer of BJP. Whatever he says is only after thorough consideration. Whoever tries to break our Bharat, is surely a criminal. There is no second thought about it.”

Chouhan, a BJP national vice-president, had during a press conference in Bhubaneswar on August 10 justified Modi government’s decision to withdraw special status to J&K and said Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was a criminal. First, he committed the crime of announcing unilateral ceasefire and then he imposed Article 370 in J&K. In one country how can two symbols, two Constitutions and two heads exist?”

Chouhan’s statement created flutter in political circles and chief minister Kamal Nath termed it “highly objectionable and condemnable”.

In addition to backing Chouhan’s statement, Pragya hit out against those opposing abrogation of Article 370 and 35A. “Those who support PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah are patriots. After abrogation of Article 370, patriots are celebrating. Those crying can not be patriotic. This definition has proved who is a patriot and who is against the nation.” Said Pragya. Asked for her personal view on scrapping of special status Pragya said, “Home minister Amit Shah has deliberated upon Article 370 within and outside Parliamnt and there is nothing left for me to say.”

Congress criticised Pragya for “Spewing venom at leaders who fought for freedom of the country”. “It is the Godse within her that is speaking against Congress leaders who fought for India’s freedom. Both Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pragya follow the ideology of Godse. These people never fought for independence so reacting to their statement is irrelevant” said Congress state media in-charge Shobha Oza.

While Pragya’s statement came as shock to a large section of BJP workers, remark of a member of Kamal Nath ministry came as a surprise to other ministers and Congress leaders. Minister Omkar Singh Markam, after cabinet meeting publicly announced that he has decided to remove portraits of great leaders from his house and replace them with the pictures of IAS officers and worshiping them. “By doing this I hope that they will listen to me and carry out my orders” he said. Earlier some other Ministers have also expressed their anger about the defiance by IAS officers. Such anger has been expressed by Ministers belonging to Jyotiraditya Scindia group. (IPA Service)