Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said people should not install smart meters if they are reluctant, but added that they won’t be able to get benefits of 200 free units.
Addressing a road show for party candidate Aga Mehmood in Budgam today, CM said the opposition has turned to politicising electricity.
“I can stand here and say that I inherited these electricity meters. I did, but the truth is that I didn’t stop the practice of installing them as the metering reduces electricity bills and we had promised 200 free units to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in our manifesto,” he said.
“But without a meter, we can’t determine the electricity bill. This is the truth. We can’t provide 200 units of free electricity through an agreement. Free electricity can only be provided where a meter is installed, and through the meter, we know how much electricity is being used. If you don’t want a meter, don’t install it, your electricity bill will be per agreement. But when we start providing 200 units of free electricity and you have no meter at home, you will not benefit. Then blame those who are doing politics on this issue,” he said.
The CM said all forces are out to defeat the NC and Aga Mehmood.
“Our only fault is that we remained true to the foundation on which we sought votes a year ago. In the 2014 elections, PDP sought votes to keep BJP out of power. They told you that voting for the PDP was essential to keep the BJP out. You cast aside the National Conference and gave your votes to PDP. And what was the result after the elections? By bringing the BJP to power, these same people began to erode Jammu and Kashmir. We too sought your votes last year on the same basis. Did we join hands with the BJP after that? No, that’s the difference between the PDP and the National Conference. Of course, despite the fact that we are occasionally punished for that decision. It’s a fact that if the BJP were in power today, they might have granted Jammu and Kashmir statehood. But we are not willing to make that deal,” he said.
He also stated that the relation between PDP and BJP is still intact and asked people to question the party (PDP) about no candidate in Nagrota bye-election.
He also said that he would thank the people of Budgam by giving them a university like the way he did in Ganderbal.
The CM said that he is in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is planning a cricket stadium and academy for Jammu and Kashmir.
“In Jammu, it would come up in Kathua and God willing we will get it and here, the cricket academy will be established in Budgam,” he said.