Patna,(BiharTimes): BJP MLAs in the Bihar Assembly staged sit-in (dharna) outside and inside the state Assembly over hike in the electricity rate in Bihar.The leader of opposition in the state Assembly, Nand Kishore Yadav, charged that the people of the state would have to bear the extra burden of Rs 113 crore by this increase in the power tariff in both the rural and urban areas.

He asked as to why should the people pay the price for the inefficiency of the power companies. The power companies are in fact suffereing losses because of the theft in transmission and distribution.Though the power rate for irrigation has been spared the BJP MLAs charged that the farmers would be hit by the hike.When the BJP MLAs created scene in the pre-lunch session the Speaker, Uday Narayan Chaudhary, adjourned the House till 2:00 PM.

The BJP legislators raised the slogans: “Nitish Sarkar Hosh Mein Aao, Hosh Mein Aao, Hosh Mein Aao” outside the Assembly.Later both chief minister Nitish Kumar and his ministerial colleague Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said that the hike has nothing to do with the state government as it has been recommended by Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission, which is an autonomous body.

The ruling party alleged that the BJP is deliberately confusing the people by stating that farmers would be hit by the hike when the fact is that agriculture sector has been spared.