Asserting the need to wake up Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh from his slumber, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said that party cadre would hold protests outside PSPCL offices on Friday to demand restoration of power supply for both the agricultural and domestic sector in the state.
“We also demand the Government pay a bonus of Rs 50 per quintal to farmers for the extra cost incurred by them in rearing their paddy crop,” he said.
“Capt Amarinder has practically reneged on the free power facility extended to farmers by former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal by refusing to provide eight hours uninterrupted power supply to them during the peak of the paddy season. After betraying farmers by refusing to implement a complete farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister has now effectively made the free power facility redundant in Punjab,” he said.
The SAD chief also condemned the Congress Government for severe cuts imposed on the domestic sector in Punjab, saying that these could have been easily averted with well-planned Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
AAP TO GHERAO CAPT’s SISWAN FARMHOUSE ON JULY 3 OVER POWER SHORTAGE
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), under the leadership of state unit president Bhagwant Mann will gherao Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s Siswan farmhouse on July 3.
Announcing, AAP MLA and youth wing state president Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Thursday said that the people in Punjab are suffering due to prolonged and unannounced power cuts but the Chief Minister while abandoning the people is enjoying at his royal farmhouse.
“AAP demands uninterrupted and affordable power supply to the people and the farmers along with all sections of Punjab,” said Hayer.
He alleged that the main reason for the high cost and shortage of power is the wrong power purchase agreements made by the previous Badal Government with the private thermal plants and the non-cancellation of the agreements by the present Congress government.