OneWorld.net (U.S.)

New Delhi:Residents of the Indian capital have taken to the streets to protest against the power hike announced by the private power companies. Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) have decided not to pay power dues if the government goes ahead with the power hike.

A virtual civil disobedience movement is growing right under our nose. Large swathes of the city's middle class are on warpath, refusing to accept the recent 10% hike in electricity rates. Thousands have paid their bill minus the hike and each day more are joining the protest movement christened Campaign Against Power Tariff Hike (CAPTAH).

The popular resistance movement started in Old Rajinder Nagar where the residents' welfare association (RWA) decided not to pay the July 7 hike in the rates. To begin with, it looked like a brave act of defiance which would peter out as does most such middle class anger in the face of retaliatory action.

The Times of India