Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it was time to earn money from electricity rather than receive it for free, in an apparent attempt to counter the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress’ promise of free electricity in poll-bound Gujarat.
Addressing Modasa town in Aravalli district in north Gujarat, Modi said only he knows the art through which people will be able to earn money from electricity.
Modi also slammed the Congress, saying it believes in the formula of “divide and rule” and focuses only on how to be in power.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been trying to woo voters with a promise that, just like Delhi and Punjab, his party would provide free electricity up to 300 units per month if voted to power in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat.
Kejriwal has on many occasions claimed he is the only politician in the country who has “mastered this magic of providing free electricity.”
The opposition Congress has also jumped on board, stating in its election manifesto that if elected to power in Gujarat, where assembly elections are scheduled for December 1 and 5, the party will provide free electricity to up to 300 units.
On Thursday, Modi stated that he wants people in Gujarat to earn money from excess electricity generated by solar rooftop systems rather than simply receiving it for free.
“You must have noticed how the entire Modhera village (in Mehsana district) is now powered by rooftop solar panels.” They use electricity as needed and sell surplus power (to the government). “I want to spread this system throughout Gujarat,” he said.
“You can earn money under this system by selling excess electricity generated by solar panels.” Only Modi knows this art wherein people will be able to earn from electricity,” said the PM.
He said that the audience that a woman from Modhera is now planning to buy a refrigerator and an air-conditioner as electricity has become affordable after the installation of rooftop solar power.
“She told me that though her family was able to afford the appliances earlier, they refrained because they could not bear the running costs.” Now, they can afford it because electricity is free. I am working to bring this revolution to the doorstep of every household in Gujarat,” the PM said.
He reminded the people of Aravalli that under the Congress rule, farmers in this district were killed in police firing for demanding affordable electricity for agricultural use.
The Prime Minister stated that farmers are now generating their own electricity by installing solar panels on unused corners of their farms.
“They can also make money by selling excess electricity.” The era of demanding low-cost electricity has passed. “You can now make money by selling electricity,” he explained.
However, Modi also slammed the Congress, saying the opposition party only believes in the formula of “divide and rule” and it only focuses on how to get power. “Rajasthan is near your border, have you seen any development in that state? Have you seen any good news coming out of that state? The Congress cannot do development,” he said.
