Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 2

Taking on the ruling Congress over the looming power shortage in the state, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today held protests at various locations across the district.

Ex-MLA Sarabjit Makkar and District Youth Congress chief Sukhminder Rajpal held a protest outside the PSPCL office. The leaders slammed the government for failing to pre-empt the power shortage in the state during the peak summer time and not being able to take any adequate measures in time.

BJP workers hold a protest in front of PSPCL office for not getting the promised eight-hour power supply in Jalandhar on Friday.

The leaders said farmers, industrialists and domestic consumers were all suffering due to power shortage. “There was not enough water being supplied through irrigation canals. The Power Ministry is vested with CM Capt Amarinder Singh who is busy with fire fighting within his own party and did not attend any meetings with the PSPCL officials to check the power situation,” said Makkar.

Likewise, ex-Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljit Bhatia led a protest outside the PSPCL office at Adarsh Nagar and slammed the state government for not doing anything to increase power generation. Party leader Kimti Bhagat led a protest at Abadpura power sub-station. SAD leaders, including Chandan Grewal, handed over a demand letter to PSPCL engineer Jaspal Singh for being forwarded to the Governor. They said that the Governor should press upon the state government to do the needful.

BJP holds dharna outside PSPCL office

BJP activists today held a dharna, against power cuts, outside the office of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) here. BJP district president Sushil Sharma while taking a dig at the Congress government claimed the previous state government had made the state power surplus but the present government has created a black out situation. Former Cabinet Minister Manoranjan Kalia, former MLAs KD Bhandari and Mohinder Bhagat, former Mayor Sunil Jyoti among others were present on the occasion.

Kalia said the state government should be committed to provide power to the populace. A government which can’t do so has no right to remain in power.