Addressing the people on the fourth day of the satyagraha against unfair rate of water and electricity, Arvind Kejriwal said his health deteriorated since yesterday’s speech and, hence, he would speak less this time. Assuring the people at large, however, he proclaimed, "Sharir kamzor zaroor hai, magar hausle buland hain (I am only physically weak; my spirit has not dampened)."
In the evening, his Blood Pressure was 114/70, Pulse was 75 and Sugar was 85. He has lost 5 kg of body weight in the last four days, Kejriwal’s medical team informed.
By the end of Day 3, i.e. March 25th, 186697 satyagrahis had signed protest letters to Shiela Dikshit pledging that they would not pay the inflated bijli-pani bills.
Today, general secretary of Delhi Resident Welfare Association Federation — an association of 51 RWAs under its fold — DC Prajapati pledged the support of the outfit to the indefinite fast for people’s cause. He said he would be getting the protest letters addressed to Shiela Dikshit signed by people living in these areas.
As the day progresses, residents of Sunder Nagari would light a huge pyre of inflated bijli-pani bills at around 7pm. On the eve of Holika dahan, hundreds of people would assemble near F-Block in Sundar Nagari. ((Photographs of the same would be made available on the website: www.aamaadmiparty.org))
On stage, family members of one Rasida Begum, 64, who lives in a one room shanty in Inderlok with her handicapped son came to complain she has received an inflated bill of Rs 1,15,868. She has a question to ask Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, "My handicapped son and I are unemployed. I paid Rs 15,000 last year after taking a loan. How can I pay this bill of over 1 lakh?"
Ram Kishori is a widow who lives in Dwarka Phase 3. She works as a domestic help to make her ends meet. She had received a bill of Rs 53,000. On non-payment of the bill, her supply of electricity to her house was disconnected. She asks, "I am a widow, how can I pay this bill with my meagre income?"
18-year old Neha''s father is a scrap dealer. He barely manages to feed six mouths with a measly income of Rs 5,000 a month. The family has received an electricity bill of about Rs 2,500. Neha asks, "If my father pays Rs 2,500 for electricity, what will our family eat; how will we study?"
Inviting all such victims of the Delhi Government-discoms nexus on stage or hearing patiently their tales of woes outside, AAP activist Manish Sisodia said that there were only two ways the ruling class ensures its rule lasts for ever: instilling fear and greed in the minds of the people; “greed in a few, and fear in most”. The need of the hour is to get over the fear of oppression by the ruling class, he said while informing the audience that the government, which has started feeling the heat of the movement, has started misusing the police to scare activists of the AAP. Posters, hoardings, banners and other publicity material of the party are being pulled down from across the city, and volunteers are being manhandled by the police, Sisodia informed.
