Arvind Kumar Sharma, UP Power Minister's 'Jai Bajrang Bali' Response To Residents Resenting Over '3 Hours Of Electricity Supply'; Video

Jaunpur: Uttar Pradesh Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma is facing backlash after his video of his interaction with people complaining about the power supply issue during his visit to Surapur surfaced online. Soon the video went viral. In the video, local residents could be seen requesting the minister to resolve the electricity issue in the area. However, the minister's reaction drew flak from netizens.

When locals told Sharma that there is only a three-hour electricity supply in the area, instead of providing solution to their problem, he raised religious slogans. "Boliye Shankar Bhagwan Ki Jai, Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bajrang Bali Ki," Sharma said and then left in his car.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the UP minister. "This is UP's Energy Minister and PM Modi's close associate AK Sharma ji. The people of the state, troubled by severe power cuts, are expressing their grievances to him. But instead of addressing the problem, the minister quietly got into his car and left," the AAP said in its X post.

Netizens are also hitting out at the minister.

Social Media Users' Reaction:

"You get what you vote for," one of the X users wrote.

"Ye to haal hai UP ke Bijli Mantri Arvind Kumar Sharma ka," another user wrote.

In March this year, Sharma had issued a warning to officers of the electricity department. He had said that officers would be held accountable for power disruptions.

Addressing a public event in his hometown of Mau, Sharma asserted that the days of persuasion were over and strict action would now be taken against negligence in the power sector.

"When I became a minister, power lines were worn out, poles were falling and transformers were overloaded. Back then, shouting at officers or suspending them wouldn't have solved the issue. However, 3,300 people have been suspended in the last three years, and I can now say with confidence that power supply should not be disrupted in Mau, Ghazipur or Dohrighat," the minister had said during that event. He had also directed that areas designated for 24-hour power supply should receive uninterrupted electricity.