CHANDIGARH: Joint protests by power employees across the country including Patiala, Hissar , Srinagar were held today by power engineers and employees against the Central government’s draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 a SHANTI bill 2025.
The draft Electricity Bill a tool for complete privatization that would undermine public control of distribution companies (Discoms) and imperil worker security, said Padamjit Singh Chief Patron All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF).Various speakers including Shailendra Dubey , Rathnakar Rao. Sachin Tickoo, Pirxada Hidayaryllah, said that Bill will hand over the power distribution sector to private firms, ending public distribution, farmers face hefty charges , poor domestic consumers have to pay Rs 10-12/unit, private firms can public networks at low rates, serving only profitable clients. The Discoms will bear the cost of upkeep, risking bankruptcy, private firms can skip rural areas and the poor, widening gaps. and finally centre usurps state powers on tariffs/distribution.
V K Gupta media advisor All India Power Engineers Federation said that protests were held at all the states including Srinagar, Jammu, Patiala, Lucknow, Dehradun, Telangana, Hissar .