Srinagar, Aug 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday defended the recent power tariff hike as a "compulsion".

Responding to media queries on the sidelines of an official function, Omar dismissed speculation over any crisis in his government, asserting that the administration was functioning smoothly.
"No work has stopped. There is no crisis in the government. Our work is going on. We will reshuffle when we have to," he said, adding that he had never committed to any specific timeline for the cabinet reshuffle.
"I said it won't happen before August 15. I didn't tell you that it will happen on August 15. When will it happen? In what circumstances? Leave this to me," CM said, parrying questions on the much-anticipated expansion.
On increase in power tariff, Omar launched a sharp counter-offensive against opposition parties, particularly the BJP, which has been attacking his government over the hike.
The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) recently approved an average tariff increase of 6.83 per cent, effective from September 1, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition and trade bodies.
“When did we say that the electricity rates will not increase? We said that we will give 200 units of electricity to the poorest and neediest. We will give them 200 units of electricity for free," Omar told reporters in Srinagar.
"The rates of electricity won't increase. We said that we will give 200 units to the poorest people for free. There is no connection between the price of electricity and this scheme. We will continue to provide free electricity to people," CM claimed.
Defending the tariff revision, he said the hike was not arbitrary but a necessity to bridge the mounting losses in the power sector.
"We increased the rate of electricity by only 6 per cent. That too after four years. How much more did the prices increase during that time? Where did the prices of oil reach? Where did the prices of the goods you buy from the market reach? We increased the rate of electricity as much as we could," he said.
“Those who point fingers at me, they should remember that they have also ruled here. During their rule, the rate of electricity increased by more than 14 per cent. At that time, they didn't feel that it was injustice. Four years ago, the rate of electricity increased by 15 per cent. Even then, the BJP people remained silent," he said.
"This was our compulsion. We are not celebrating by increasing the rate of electricity," he said in an apparent reference to the financial constraints facing the power sector.