In a startling revelation, a Congress leader, a Gram Panchayat member, has been caught in an illegal electricity theft scandal despite the government’s provision of free electricity under the Griha Jyoti Yojana. The incident raises questions about the misuse of the schemes the Congress Government has championed.
The Congress party, which secured a sweeping victory in the recent state elections by winning 135 seats, had promised to deliver five critical guarantees to the people of Karnataka. Among these was the Griha Jyoti Yojana, which offers up to 200 units of free electricity to households, aiming to provide financial relief to the poor and middle-class segments. However, the leader supposed to represent these values exploited the system.
Asha Narayan, the President of the Narayana taluk Congress Women’s Unit in Chikkamagaluru district and a member of the Devdana Gram Panchayat, has been accused of illegally tapping electricity for three houses in her locality. Despite being eligible for the benefits under the Griha Jyoti scheme, Narayan reportedly secured unauthorized connections, bypassing the legal channels.
The illegal activity came to light when MESCOM (Mangalore Electricity Supply Company) officials raided her residence in Kadabagere, Chikkamagaluru taluk. The investigation revealed that Narayan had facilitated illegal electricity connections, leading to significant power theft. As a result, she has been fined Rs 1 lakh by the authorities. Despite her local influence, which initially helped her evade consequences, the intervention of MESCOM’s higher officials ensured that the law was enforced.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with many expressing their disappointment in the Congress government and its representatives. This misuse of government schemes by those in power not only undermines the very purpose of the initiatives but also erodes the public’s trust in the system, highlighting the need for more transparent and accountable governance.
The controversy has also led to a broader debate on the accountability of elected officials and the need for stricter enforcement of laws, especially when it comes to the equitable distribution of resources meant for the needy. The State Government, which has prided itself on the implementation of its five guarantees, now faces the urgent challenge of addressing the fallout from this scandal and ensuring that such breaches do not occur in the future.
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