INLD takes to streets against high power bills

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, October 5

INLD workers, led by state party chief Ashok Arora, today staged a token dharna over the hike in power tariff at Mini-Secretariat here today.

“The unjustified bills have disturbed the budget of a common man, but the government has not been paying any attention it. If the government fails to withdraw the higher power tariffs, the INLD will be forced to take harsh steps,” Arora said.

He said, “A state body meeting will be called soon to chalk out the future course of action. We may launch a non-cooperation movement against the state government or may ask people to not pay their electricity bills.”

Criticising the Chief Minister, Arora said, “Power tariff has been increased unprecedentedly, all sections of society have been complaining and the CM is expressing his unawareness about the issue.”

He said, “The BJP government has failed to fulfill the promises it made in its manifesto. It has been decreasing the budget of essential things and spending crores on programmes such as Yoga Day or Swachhta Abhiyan. The government should take wise decisions and give some relief to the countrymen.”

The INLD submitted a memorandum to Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki through Deputy Commissioner CG Rajinikaanthan, seeking withdrawal of higher power tariffs.

Karnal: To show their resentment against the hike in power tariff in the state, scores of INLD workers today staged a dharna outside the Mini-Secretariat. They slammed the BJP government and handed over a memorandum to SDM Rajiv Mehta for Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The protesters, who were led by Yashvir Rana, district party president, alleged the state government had hiked the power tariff in an unprecedented way. “It has broken the backbone of the state consumers,” he said.

Manoj Wadhwa, Deputy Mayor, Karnal Municipal Corporation, said the government had hiked the power tariff by 40 to 60 per cent, resulting in consumers getting inflated bills. It was an attempt of the government to provide advantage to private companies, he added.

Ambala: The district unit of the INLD today staged a dharna in front of the DC office here. Ashok Sherwal, state general secretary of the party, and Sheesh Pal Jandheri, district president, were present on the occasion.

Sherpal said the BJP government had hiked power bills several times in one month and the recent hike had badly affected the people. He said the INLD will continue its protest till the hike was withdrawn.

Jhajjar/Mahendragarh: Activists of the INLD today organised a protest in Jhajjar and Narnaul against the steep hike in the electricity rates. They also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the administrative authorities, seeking withdrawal of the hike.

In Jhajjar, the protesters, led by Karambir Rathi and Sanjay Kablana, staged a dharna on the Mini-Secretariat campus and raised slogans against the BJP government.’

In Narnaul, the party workers took out a march and said the power rates had been hiked up to 60 per cent in the name of fuel charges. 

Sonepat: INLD workers and office-bearers led by district president and former MLA Padam Singh Dahiya today staged a dharna outside the mini-secretariat here today against the increased power bills and handed over a memorandum, addressed to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, to DC Rajiv Ratan.

CPM activists took out a march in the town led by district president SN Solanki. They handed over a memorandum to the DC. Both memorandums were received by SDM Amna Tasneem.

Dahiya and Solanki alleged that the unprecedented hike of 50 to 60 per cent in the power bills was a ploy to make up the discoms’ power losses from the common consumer who was paying the bills on a regular basis. They urged the Chief Minister to step in and redress the grievances of power consumers.