Cong slams BJP govt’s Electric Vehicle Policy

The Delhi Congress on Wednesday strongly opposed the BJP-led Delhi Government’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2.0, calling it an “anti-poor” decision that threatens the livelihood of lakhs of CNG auto-rickshaw drivers in the national capital.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav accused the government of pushing through the policy without proper planning or providing any alternative employment options.

Yadav said: “The BJP Government’s decision to stop registration of new CNG autos from August 15, 2025, and not renewing existing permits is a high-handed move that puts over 6 lakh people in immediate financial danger. These auto drivers, already struggling with skyrocketing inflation and competition from app-based cab services like Ola and Uber, are now staring at unemployment.”

He criticised the government for acting hastily without assessing the ground realities such as inadequate charging infrastructure and unreliable electricity supply.

“Before phasing out CNG autos, the government must first ensure 24x7 electricity and increase the number of charging stations across Delhi. At present, the infrastructure is grossly insufficient,” Yadav said.

Highlighting the double standards, he questioned why government departments and DTC buses haven’t yet fully transitioned to electric vehicles. “If the government truly wants to go green, it should start with its own fleet before targeting poor auto drivers,” he said.

Yadav said many of these drivers had taken loans at high interest rates to purchase CNG vehicles, encouraged by past government policies. “Now, the same government is turning its back on them. It is betrayal in the name of environmentalism,” he alleged.

The Delhi Congress chief also took a swipe at former CM Arvind Kejriwal, saying the AAP had similarly exploited auto drivers to come to power and later abandoned them. “Neither the AAP nor the BJP is serious about addressing the real concerns of auto drivers. Both have used them as vote banks and now left them to fend for themselves,” he said.

Reacting to the BJP’s claim that the EV policy will help reduce pollution, Yadav asked whether CNG, once hailed as a cleaner fuel, had now been declared harmful. “The Congress government under Sheila Dikshit had received global praise for shifting public transport to CNG. Today, that same fuel is being blamed, without any scientific basis or public consultation,” he said.

“We’re not against electric vehicles, but it must be done responsibly. Auto drivers must not be sacrificed in the name of policy reform,” he said, warning that the Delhi Congress would launch a campaign to oppose the policy unless corrective steps are taken.