Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa has strongly condemned the State government’s decision to impose a 20% surcharge on electricity usage between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., calling it an anti-people move that will hurt middle-class families, students, and small businesses.
At a press conference in Panaji, AAP State President Adv. Amit Palekar said the decision exposes the BJP government’s “insensitivity” towards Goans already burdened by high power tariffs. Displaying an electricity bill as evidence, Palekar claimed that Goans are already paying over 25% extra in charges even before the new surcharge takes effect.
“BJP wants to take people of Goa back to the stone age and use lamps during the night,” said Palekar. “This government wants to penalise people for spending time with their families, watching TV, or simply living comfortably. It is nothing short of daylight robbery.”
Palekar also warned that the surcharge would discourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs). “Most EV owners charge their cars and bikes at night after work. This move will directly hurt EV users — the same people the government once encouraged. It shows the BJP’s hypocrisy and lack of foresight,” he added.
AAP National Youth Vice President Siddesh Bhagat accused the BJP ministers of being “the real Narkasurs of Goa,” saying, “The only waste of resources is the taxpayers’ money spent on these ministers. They live in luxury while looting Goans. If the Power Minister wants to penalise people for using electricity, he should first ensure reliable and affordable supply.”
Echoing similar sentiments, AAP National Spokesperson Valmiki Naik said the BJP’s governance model benefits industrialists at the expense of ordinary citizens. “Electricity is a basic necessity, not a luxury. The BJP uses essential services like power, water, and fuel as tools to exploit the public. Their model is to reward big businesses and loot the common man,” Naik said.
Naik further stated that AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab have shown that it is possible to provide essential services like electricity free of cost while easing the burden on the common citizen.
The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded an immediate withdrawal of the 20% power surcharge and warned of a state-wide agitation if the government fails to roll back what it called an “anti-people and exploitative” decision.
