Who electrified the rest of villages? Chidambaram's swipe at PM

May 01, 2018 08:35

Former finance minister P Chidambaram hit out at the Centre and dubbed its claim of providing electricity to every single village in India as a 'jumla'.

Chidambaram also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking credit for the work done by the previous United Progressive Alliance government.

"The government said every village in India has been electrified. It's a 'jumla'. There are some 5,97,000 villages in India. 1,000 days ago Narendra Modi said 18,000 villages haven't been electrified and it'll be done in 1,000 days. Who electrified rest 5,80,000 villages?" Chidambaram said while addressing the Youth Congress national executive meeting in the national capital.

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Modi, the former finance minister said, "Remaining 5,80,000 villages weren't electrified in last 1,000 days but by previous governments. He electrifies last 18,000 villages and says it's great achievement of my government. It took them three years to electrify last 18,000 villages," he said.

As per government of India, out of 18,452 villages in India that were power deprived three years ago, 17,181 have been electrified. Others are uninhabited or classified as grazing reserves.

The last village to be electrified under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana was Leisang village located in Senapati district in Manipur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote, '28th April 2018 will be remembered as a historic day in the development journey of India. Yesterday, we fulfilled a commitment due to which the lives of several Indians will be transformed forever! I am delighted that every single village of India now has access to electricity.'

'Leisang village in Manipur, like the thousands of other villages across India has been powered and empowered. This news will make every Indian proud and delighted,' he tweeted.

A village is said to be electrified if at least 10 per cent of its households, as well as public places such as schools, panchayat offices and health centers, have access to electricity.

Earlier in 2015, Centre had identified 18,452 villages to be electrified under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana. -- ANI

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