The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday sparred over the issue of scrapping of ‘no objection certification’ (NOC) to power connections in unauthorised colonies. Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday announced the scrapping of requirement of "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) by Delhi Development Authority for getting electricity connections in unauthorised colonies.

She further accused the BJP for making it difficult for residents of these colonies to get electricity connections. While the Delhi BJP hit back at the AAP government saying the Lieutenant Governor has already done away with the NOC provisions and alleged that the AAP government and their ministers are spreading lies to mislead the people.

 The BJP further accused her of being a ‘Credit Chor’ claiming that she can go to any extent to take credit for others' work and mislead the public by lying.

Speaking about the decision, Atishi said, "I am pleased to announce that the Delhi government has decided that no NOC will be required for installing electricity meters in 1,731 unauthorized colonies. Anyone residing in these colonies can apply for an electricity meter, and they will receive a connection within 15 days, as stipulated by the DISCOMs."

She stated that the decision comes in the backdrop where she had received complaints about people being forced to wander and pay bribes due to the mandatory NOC requirement by BJP-governed DDA.  She said, "Despite the BJP's DDA attempting to trouble the residents of unauthorized colonies, all such attempts will be thwarted under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.”

"Residents from various areas like Swaroop Vihar Extension, West Kamal Vihar, Mohan Garden, Vipin Garden, and Nawada Extension came to me as the Energy Minister and Chief Minister, sharing their grievances," Atishi said, adding that no matter how much the BJP's DDA tries to harass the residents of unauthorized colonies, the Delhi government will not allow them to suffer.

“Orders have been issued to the electricity companies to ensure that no NOC is needed for installing meters in these colonies," she stated.

Meanwhile, South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has accused Atishi of telling a blatant lie and said that the DDA has already removed the condition of NOC for electricity connection in unauthorized colonies of Delhi. Bidhuri said that the order issued by DDA can only be withdrawn by DDA. Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijendra Gupta called Atishi’s announcement the height of dishonesty. “Atishi is trying to take credit for the announcement made by the Lieutenant Governor to remove the NOC requirement for new electricity connections in unauthorized colonies.

The Lieutenant Governor had already issued this order on October 1, and now, 15 days later, Atishi is falsely attempting to take credit for the same decision, claiming it benefits the public,” he alleged.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that Atishi proved that both her government and the AAP are “machines for churning lies.” He claimed that neither the DDA nor the MCD had ever imposed the NOC condition. “Instead, the requirement came from the power DISCOMs under the Kejriwal government. For years, power DISCOMs requested NOCs from the MCD for urbanized areas, and by mid-last year, they started demanding NOCs from the DDA for unauthorized colonies and urban villages, worsening the issue,” Sachdeva claimed.

Northeast Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari alleged that Atishi shamelessly lied and called her claims a complete fabrication aimed at misleading the public. “This decision was publicly acknowledged on October 6 in Burari, where residents expressed their gratitude through the "THANK YOU MODI JI" program,” he stated.