Statewide protests against power dept privatisation move on July 14

The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by state leader Sarwan Singh Pandher held meetings with farmers and rural masses in several villages to motivate the public to demonstrate against the proposed move to privatise the power sector in the state. The union gave a call for a statewide demonstration.

The farmer leaders claimed that disagreement to the proposed privatisation move is growing with major protests scheduled across the state on 14 July. Demonstrators will gather in large numbers outside the offices of Chief Powercom, Executive Engineers (XENs), and Superintending Engineers (SEs) to voice their opposition to the Central Government’s power sector reforms and the installation of smart meters.

As part of the build-up to the statewide protest, a mass gathering was organised today at Ramdiwali village under Tahli Sahib Zone. Addressing the gathering, state leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Baldev Singh Bagga criticisded the Central Government’s plans to pass the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. They alleged that the Bill is a move towards handing over public electricity infrastructure to private companies.

They further raised concerns about a recent statement by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who said that chip-based smart meters would be compulsorily installed in employees’ homes by August 31 and later in all consumer households. The protesters said the move amounts to forced digitization without public consent.

The leaders criticised the Punjab Government’s decision to privatise the Lalru subdivision under Mohali, accusing it of aligning with the Centre’s privatisation agenda. They called on workers, employees, shopkeepers, farmers and ordinary citizens to unite in defence of the public electricity sector.

Sukhdev Singh Kajikot, Chief Secretary of the Border Zone, demanded simplification of the fine collection procedure. He said the authority to investigate meter-related penalties should be vested in SDOs and XENs. He insisted that damaged transformers must be replaced within 24 hours and that no chip-based smart meters should be forcibly installed in consumers’ homes. Corruption in electricity offices, he added, must be eradicated.

Prominent district leaders present at the gathering included Kandhar Singh Bhoewal, Balwinder Singh Kaler Bala, Sardool Singh, Khajan Singh, Baba Budh Singh Udoke, Jatinder Singh Mattewal, Keval Singh, Lovepreet Bagga, Gurpal Singh Gaddaryada, Gurdeep Singh Ramdiwali, along with several farmers and labourers.

Amritsar