Demanding an immediate rollback in power tariff, Punjab Congress on Thursday maintained that it would submit a memorandum to Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil, or even opt for "legal options" on the issue. Besides, the party would also hold an "emergency meeting" to launch Statewide agitation on power tariff hike.
"The Government should explain the rationale for such a hike. This increase will severally hit the industry and domestic consumers. We are considering legal options on dragging the Government to the court on this count," said Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa.
Bajwa, addressing party workers meeting, said that economic mess created by Government led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was responsible for the losses of Punjab State Power Corporation limited (Powercom).
"The State Government has not been paying full amount of subsidy for exempted sectors….Power hike this year is nine to 11 per cent, and in previous financial year, the power tariff was hiked by 12 per cent," he said.
Bajwa added that three thermal power projects of Goindwal Sahib, Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo were running behind schedule and SAD-BJP government has been giving false hopes of 24-hour power supply to people. "Credit for Goindwal Sahib and Talwandi Sabo power projects goes to Congress Government during 2002-2007," he added.
State party chief maintained that beside power hike, the Congress would raise strong voice on other issues like property tax, poor law and order situation, illegal mining, etc.
Terming SAD-BJP Government's "tax free" Budget as a fraud on public, Bajwa also announced to soon expose the current regime by issuing a white paper on "indirect" taxes worth over Rs3,000 crore imposed by subverting the democratic process.
"Though no fresh taxes were imposed in the Budget, the Government has actually burdened citizens with indirect taxes….Power tariff hike will fetch them Rs1,800 crore every year. Increase in bus fare, hospital charges, liquor bottle prices, old vehicles transfer charges, girl students fee, stamp duty on registration of properties, suwidha centre user charges and levying of huge license fee on serving liquor during marriage parties will fetch over Rs1,200 crore to the Government's kitty. The list of such taxes is long," Bajwa added.
Bajwa maintained that after his Statewide tour, he would take up all issues with the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.