Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh (UP) Energy Minister AK Sharma has once again lashed out at his own department officials. He has expressed a lot of displeasure over departmental negligence and insensitivity. The special thing is that he has also shared audio recording of a conversation between a senior officer of the electricity department and the consumer on the social media platform X.
This audio sent him by a senior leader. Claimed that departmental officers are not paying attention to the complaints of the public. They have also become very insensitive in the tone of conversation.
What did Sharma write on X?
The Energy Minister wrote in the post, “A senior leader who has been an MP many times, has sent the audio to me to talk to a senior official of a educated citizen with a senior official of the electricity department and demanded action on it.
He further wrote, I had said the same thing to the chairman, MD and other officials of UPPCL three days ago. Strict words also said that the toll free system of 1912 or other technology -based system can complement the human system, not an option.
Officers stopped picking up phone
The Energy Minister expressed displeasure over the working style of the officers and said, the officials have stopped picking up the phone. There was a butterfly, now climbed on Neem. Many such wrong decisions have been made despite our repeatedly refusing written/ orally. I had said that due to many such wrong, untimely and impractical instructions, the public is facing problems.
Lied in the meeting: Minister
Sharma claimed that the officials of the department misled him in the meeting. In the meeting, everyone said that no specific instructions were given to file a complaint on 1912 (helpline), but I did not believe them. I asked many times, every time I got to hear untruth. He further said, now you listen to the audio yourself and understand the reality.
Warning to officials- results will be fierce
Sharma said in clear terms that the officials and employees of the electricity department should understand their responsibility towards the public. Solve the problems quickly, communicate in gentle language. Otherwise the results will be fierce.
Did the leader message WhatsApp?
The Energy Minister also shared the WhatsApp message, which was sent to him by a senior leader. It was written in it, Honorable Minister, there is no electricity in a large locality of Basti city from 10 am. Until 8 pm, no officer was picking up the phone. When the Superintending Engineer was called, his behavior was very insensitive. Hearing the way he talked about, you will know yourself how insensitive they are towards Public Grievance and it is clear from their own relations that the image of the government is engaged in deliberately tarnishing.
SE was suspended
Consumer Devo Bhava:
Sri Prashant Singh has been suspended with immediate effect on the incident of insensitivity to the complaint of the electricity consumer and the incident of indecent behavior.
All other electric officials and personnel again for effective and quick solution to consumer problems… pic.twitter.com/8qrdarbf2n
– AK Sharma (@aksharmabharat) July 27, 2025
Sharma posted on Sunday morning and told that SE Prashant Singh of Basti has been suspended with immediate effect. He wrote, Consumer Devo Bhava:… SE Prashant Singh of Basti has been suspended with immediate effect on the incident of insensitivity to the complaint of the power consumer and the incident of indecent behavior. All other electric officials and personnel have been re -directed for effective and quick solutions to consumer problems. All people should be ready in public service.
