Industry threatens to go on hunger strike

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 11

The local industry is up in arms against the present government regarding increase in power tariff. Industry representatives from Ludhiana and other part of Punjab, at a meeting held here, decided to protest if the government failed to accept their demands by December 20.

Industrial organisations will be launching a protest under the banner of Industries and Trade Forum.

Today members from more than 40 industrial organisations met under one roof and took this decision. It was decided to observe a chain hunger strike and members of industrial organisations from Jalandhar, Amritsar and Mandi Gobindgarh have decided to be a part of this chain hunger strike, which will start from Vishkarma Chowk in Ludhiana.

Badish Jindal, president of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries’ Association (FOPSIA), said: “The industry condemns the retrospective increase in power tariff by the government and not keeping its promise of giving power to the industry at the rate of Rs5 per unit for five years.”

“Time has come to show the unity to the government and to condemn all these issues in one voice. We will wait for the government to respond till December 20, failing which we will go on chain hunger strike. Hunger strike will be started from Vishkarma Chowk, Ludhiana. Daily five organisations will sit on hunger strike and protest. This strike will continue till the decision of the government,” said Inderjit Singh Navyug, president of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers’ Association.

UCPMA president Inderjit Singh Navyug, FOPSIA president Badish Jindal; president All-India Induction Furnace Association KK Garg, president Machine Tools Kulwant Singh and president Mandi Gobindgarh Furnace Association Mohinder Gupta will be the first five to participate in the hunger strike.

It was also decided that the industry would not invite any MLA, minister or MP of the government and would not participate in any of the government programmes.

“The Congress government has befooled the industry of Punjab by including the clause of Rs5 per unit power in its election manifesto. The industry is closing down due to the wrong policies of the government, but it seems to be of little concern to them. We are left with no other option but to adopt the path of agitation,” said KK Garg, president, All-India Induction Furnace Association.