The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to launch a statewide ‘Bijli Andolan’ against the ruling Congress government’s recent decision to increase electricity tariffs in Punjab.
“We will start a movement from tomorrow [June 24] against the Congress government’s decision to increase power tariffs,” said Harpal Singh Cheema, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
Anti-people agreements
The decision to launch ‘Bijli Andolan’ was taken by the party’s core committee at a recently held meeting, he said, in which an outline of the movement was also discussed.
“People in Punjab are paying very high tariffs for electricity compared to other States, which was a fallout of the anti-State and anti-people agreements signed between the previous BJP-SAD government and private power players,” he said.
Mr. Cheema said party MLAs along with volunteers will over the next seven days travel across the State and tell people about the existing high power tariffs as compared to other States, especially Delhi, which is ruled by AAP. “While the Punjab government collects cow cess through electricity bills in the name of taking care of stray animals, but the problem continues to grow. We will make people aware about the fact that they are paying very high power bills in Punjab, while in Delhi power tariffs are cheapest in the country,” said Mr. Cheema.
To intensify stir
He added that party leaders and members will submit a charter of demands to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh through the Deputy Commissioners.
Mr. Cheema said after June 30, the party would intensity its agitation against the government for its “anti-people” policies.