Farm workers seek power bill waiver

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 29

On a call given by rural and agriculture workers’ organisations, thousands staged dharnas outsides residences of ruling Congress ministers and lawmakers at 17 places for remission of electricity bills and loans and repeal of amendments made in labour and agricultural laws.

In a statement issued by the joint front, Lachhman Singh Sewewala, general secretary, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, said demand charters were given to several ministers and legislators. Demonstrations at different places were addressed by Zora Singh Nasrali, president of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union; Gurnam Singh Daud, general secretary, Dehati Mazdoor Sabha; and Avtar Singh, state general secretary, Pendu Mazdoor Union, among others.

They accused the Capt Amarinder Singh-led state government of sending them power bills amounting to thousands of rupees instead of remitting these, as promised. They said the government had also disconnected their power connections. They said by amending labour laws, the working class had been rendered helpless in front of mills and factories owners. Leaders said the new agricultural laws would deprive workers of employment opportunities, destroy the already weak public distribution system and increase food prices. Workers would be pushed into starvation, they said.

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