News Brief
Congress Accuses Ex-CM Kumaraswamy Of Illegal Power Usage In Diwali Lighting, JD(S) Leader Responds
Nayan Dwivedi
Nov 15, 2023, 11:34 AM | Updated 11:34 AM IST
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In a swift turn of events, former Chief Minister and JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy finds himself at the centre of controversy as the Congress in Karnataka accuses him of drawing power illegally for illuminating his JP Nagar residence during Diwali.
A video circulating on social media allegedly shows decorative lights powered by an unauthorised connection from a nearby electricity pole.
Kumaraswamy, however, deflects blame, pointing fingers at a private decorator for the unauthorised hookup, reported Deccan Herald.
He claims immediate corrective action was taken to rectify the situation, with power now sourced directly from the house's meter board.
Expressing remorse for the incident, Kumaraswamy invites scrutiny from the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) officials and pledges to pay any fines.
In response, the Congress ridicules Kumaraswamy, sarcastically stating, “It is a tragedy that such poverty has struck a former CM to steal electricity!”
The party taunted Kumaraswamy for not applying for the Congress government’s 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme, which offers 200 units of free electricity per month for residential connections.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar assures that BESCOM will take appropriate action but remains uncertain about potential legal repercussions for Kumaraswamy.
The political sparring intensifies as Kumaraswamy defends himself, criticising the Congress for blowing the issue out of proportion and emphasising his commitment to transparency.
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Nayan Dwivedi is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
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