Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said his government has seen a 38 per cent increase in tax collection in the last three months, claiming that the earnings were even more than the Rs 1,700 crore subsidy for electricity and water.
Speaking at a function here, Kejriwal further said the increase in tax collection was without carrying out any raids.
"Since April 1, government has seen 38 per cent of increase in revenue. This data is unheard of as we have collected tax without carrying out any raids and scrutiny. We gave Rs 1,700 crore as water and electricity subsidy but earned more than that in last three months," he said.
Kejriwal said it was during election campaign when he found that the rate of electricity was so high that it was impossible for a poor man to run his family. "Despite working for poor, we are being criticised. When we reduced the rate of electricity, economists asked us why we were giving subsidy?"
"We also gave free supply of water, as poor man should not die out of thirst. We determined 20,000 litre a month for a family of five," he said.
Kejriwal said his government is spending Rs 1,700 crore as subsidy for electricity and water with a budget of Rs 40,000 crore a year.
"If I would have spent Rs 20,000 crore on subsidy, you would have blamed me of financial impropriety. But by giving subsidy for electricity and water to poor people, we are not doing any crime," he said.
The chief minister claimed that despite giving subsidy, Delhi is witnessing least power cuts in last three years.
"I challenge that if you compare last three years data you will find that there were least power cuts this year. I get daily reports of power cut," he said.
