Strike by Power Corporation Employees Is Causing Difficulties for Farmers During Paddy Transplantation & Inconveniencing Public: Aman Arora
Punjab E News (PEN News): Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Sunday urged the striking Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) employees to immediately withdraw their strike, saying it is causing immense hardship to farmers during the crucial paddy transplantation season and disrupting essential services for nearly three crore people across the state. Reiterating that the Bhagwant Mann Government is always ready for dialogue, he said a high-level committee constituted 25 days ago at the employee unions’ request is already deliberating on their pending demands and assured that every genuine recommendation of the committee will be accepted by the government.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said, “Power Corporation employees have been on strike since July 21, causing considerable inconvenience to the people of Punjab, especially our farmers. The ongoing paddy transplantation season is at a crucial stage, and disruption of electricity services has added to the hardships faced by farmers. Besides farmers, domestic consumers, traders, our mothers, sisters and the general public are also facing serious inconvenience due to disruption in power-related services.”
The AAP Punjab President said, “The Bhagwant Mann Government is a government for every section of society. Since assuming office, it has taken several historic decisions for the welfare of employees. The government has provided jobs to thousands of youth in various departments, regularised thousands of contractual employees, extended them service benefits and resolved several long-pending demands of employees across different departments. Many demands of the Power Board employees have already been accepted by the government.”
The Cabinet Minister said, “Regarding the remaining demands, it was the employee unions themselves who requested the government to constitute a special committee for discussions with representation from both the government and the unions. Acting on their request, the government constituted a high-level committee around 20 to 25 days ago. The committee comprises senior officers from the Finance, Power and Personnel Departments along with four representatives of the employee unions. The committee has been continuously deliberating on these issues, and the government is fully prepared to consider every genuine demand with empathy and a positive approach.”
He added, “I assure the employee unions that every genuine demand recommended by the committee will be accepted by the government. When discussions between the government and the employee unions are already underway, resorting to a strike before the dialogue process is completed is not in the larger public interest.”
Aman Arora said, “Going on strike with the mindset that public inconvenience and hardship to farmers will put pressure on the government cannot be justified under any circumstances. The government belongs to you, and you are servants of the people just as we are. Therefore, I humbly appeal to all employee unions not to inconvenience the people of Punjab, especially our farmer brothers during the ongoing paddy transplantation season.”
Sharing an incident from his visit to villages, the Cabinet Minister said, “Today, I met several farmers, including one farmer who cultivates three acres of leased land. He told me with great anguish that because the electricity supply has been disrupted due to the strike, his livelihood has been badly affected. What is the fault of such farmers? If there are issues, they are with the government, and the government is already considering them positively. Innocent citizens should not be made to suffer in any manner.”
Aman Arora stated, “CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is personally monitoring the entire matter. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO are in constant touch with the employee unions and are making every possible effort to resolve the issue through dialogue.”
He said, “The Punjab Government’s stand is very clear. We are always willing to listen to every genuine concern raised by any employee union or individual employee and are committed to finding an appropriate solution. The Chief Minister, the Power Department and the entire government have their hearts, minds and doors open. You are welcome to meet the Chief Minister or any minister at any time and present your case. Every demand that is in the interest of employees, Punjab and the people of the state will receive due consideration.”
The Cabinet Minister said, “During the last four and a half years, the Punjab Government has undertaken unprecedented efforts to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the state. If some people attempt to tarnish the government’s image by inconveniencing the public through a strike, the people of Punjab are well aware of the facts.”
Appealing to farmer organisations, Aman Arora said, “I urge farmer organisations to keep the larger public interest in mind and play a constructive role by engaging with the employee unions to help bring the strike to an end.”
In his concluding appeal, Aman Arora stated, “I once again fold my hands and appeal to my Power Corporation employee brothers and sisters to immediately withdraw the strike and restore electricity services to normal. Around 90 per cent of the employees, nearly 18,500 personnel, are on strike, and because of this nearly three crore people of Punjab are being affected. Neither the government nor the people can accept attempts to create pressure by disrupting essential public services or causing hardship to citizens. Place your demands before the government without hesitation.”
“Every genuine demand will be resolved through dialogue, but this approach of arm-twisting the government by inconveniencing the public will neither be tolerated nor viewed favourably. Let us resolve every issue through discussions while safeguarding the larger interests of Punjab and its people,” said Aman Arora.
