Guwahati, June 7: In an unusual seen, three-time Assam Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha on Tuesday sat under a tree in front of Assam Speaker Biswajit Daimari’s official residence for at least an hour.

Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha followed state Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimari’s “advice” to sit under trees to deal with the soaring power tariffs amidst the scorching heat wave that has been sweeping the state for few days.

While talking to media persons, Purkayastha said, “The tariffs have increased by 30 to 70 paisa per unit. This is a huge burden on the citizens. At a time when Congress governments in many states are advocating for free electricity, BJP leaders are issuing insensible comments.”

“As per Speaker Daimari’s advice to the people, as a public representative, I should follow it immediately. So, I went in front of his residence and stayed there under the trees for one hour, but I have not seen him there,” he said.

Purkayastha is also the Working President of state Congress.

“Before the election, the BJP promised the people of Assam 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity; however, now the ruling party is busy befooling the citizens,” he added.

The Congress MLA took the step after Assam Legislative Speaker Biswajit Daimari said the power tariffs have increased, and people should avoid excessive use of fans to save electricity bills. Instead, everybody should sit under trees to combat rising tariffs.

“If power companies are hiking the tariffs, the state government should pass that on to the consumers, and people have to pay. So, I believe that an increase in power tariffs is not at all an issue, and consumers must pay the bills against their usage,” Daimari had said.