AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal will be starting another hunger fast, but with a slight change from March 23. “Our fast this time is not to demand anything from the government. Instead it is an indefinite 'upvas' (hunger strike) to help Delhi residents overcome their fear of the Delhi government and join us in not paying their electricity and water bills ", Kejriwal said calling it “civil disobedience'.
He also urged Delhi residents to stop paying their electricity and water bills as a protest against the hike in the bills which AAP has been alleging is linked to corruption and government-private companies nexus in a series of public meetings in Delhi suburbs. “Our research has told us that the hike is illegal and therefore we urge Delhi residents only to pay that amount which is legal- that is half of the total amount. Since they wouldn't be allowed only to pay half, we urge everyone to stop paying bills altogether”.
Unlike in the past the venue will not be Jantar Mantar, but the homes of citizens affected by the growing electricity and water bills. Earlier when they had done a campaign asking people not to pay their bills, Kejriwal said it could not be sustained because people were apprehensive of the government's reaction. Thus, the fast would be to demolish fear from the minds of people, he said adding that they want an audit of electricity companies.
