Atishi Slams Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Over Power Outage Denial Amid 40°C Heatwave

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) once again raised serious concerns on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, about prolonged power outages in the national capital as temperatures soared past 40 degrees Celsius.

Leader of the Opposition Atishi accused the Delhi government of ignoring the worsening crisis.

“Yesterday, Delhi’s temperature reached 40 degree Celsius. Even in this scorching heat, many areas experienced power outages for hours at night. But Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says there are no power cuts in Delhi, and people are lighting candles themselves and enjoying candlelight dinners. People are in distress, address the issue of power cuts they are facing,” said Atishi.

Atishi Shares Video, Questions CM’s Remarks

Atishi posted a video on social media platform X, allegedly featuring CM Rekha Gupta dismissing claims of blackouts by suggesting that AAP leaders were fabricating the issue and staging candlelight dinners. She expressed outrage over the Chief Minister’s remarks.

“Rekha Guptaji, are all these Delhiites lying? Are the residents of Kamla Nagar, Sangam Vihar, Bhogal, and Uttam Nagar all lying? Have they all turned off their lights voluntarily and lit candles for candlelight dinners?” she asked.

No Response from BJP Amid Political Heat

The BJP has not issued any official response. However, the situation has triggered public anger and intensified the political battle, especially as citizens continue to suffer long, unannounced blackouts across several Delhi neighborhoods.

CM Rekha Gupta’s comment—suggesting that residents were opting for candlelight dinners—sparked backlash, with Atishi accusing her of making light of people’s suffering.

“Rekha Gupta ji, are all the people of Delhi lying on social media? Are they lighting candles for fun in 40-degree heat,” Atishi reiterated, pointing to the distress messages flooding her inbox.

Flood of Complaints from Across the City

Atishi listed several complaints she received from different areas, painting a grim picture of the capital’s electricity situation.

“Every morning, my WhatsApp inbox is flooded with messages about outages. There is a genuine crisis. To dismiss this as a ‘candlelight dinner’ is nothing short of a mockery,” she said.

She highlighted reports from Bhajanpura, Sangam Vihar, Kamla Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Sonia Vihar, and Bhogal, stating that outages ranged from 30 minutes to five hours. One such message came from a BJP supporter in Bhogal who confirmed a blackout since 3:30 am.

CM Accused of Ignoring Suffering Citizens

Atishi criticized the Chief Minister for allegedly ignoring the problems faced by Delhi’s poor, elderly, and children during the intense heat.

“People are not sleeping at night, they are falling ill. This is not a joke, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure basic services,” she said.

She further urged Rekha Gupta to leave her office and visit the worst-affected areas to witness the real situation firsthand. “Delhi doesn’t need sarcasm—it needs solutions,” Atishi said.

Candlelight Remark Draws Widespread Condemnation

Posting again on X, Atishi expressed disappointment over CM Gupta’s remarks.

“Yesterday, Delhi’s temperature reached 40 degrees. Even in this scorching heat, many areas experienced power outages for hours at night,” she wrote.

Criticising the CM, she added, “Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says there are no power cuts in Delhi, people are lighting candles themselves and enjoying candlelight dinners. Rekha Gupta ji you are the Chief Minister of Delhi. Please don’t ridicule Delhiites like this.”

Time-Stamped Reports Underscore Crisis

Citing specific examples from the previous night, Atishi noted:

• At 11:05 pm, a resident from Bhajanpura reported a 30-minute blackout.
• At 12:44 am, power was out in C-Block, Sangam Vihar.
• At 1:51 am, Kamla Nagar faced an outage for over an hour.
• At 1:52 am, Jeevan Park in Uttam Nagar also had no power for more than an hour.
• At 1:53 am, a resident from Sector 2, Dwarka reported a two-hour outage.

A Call for Action

Reiterating her concerns, Atishi once again demanded immediate attention to the crisis. “Rekha Gupta ji, are all these Delhiites lying? Are the residents of Kamla Nagar, Sangam Vihar, Bhogal, and Uttam Nagar all lying? Have they all turned off their lights voluntarily and lit candles for candlelight dinners?” she questioned.

As temperatures continue to rise and power outages persist, Delhiites await a solution while the political standoff intensifies.