Press Release of UP Workers’ Front
Press Release
- The government is misleading people about electricity privatisation – Shailendra Dubey
- Electricity privatisation is not in the interest of the nation – Dinkar Kapoor
- Privatisation will destroy farmers – Bharat Singh
- Nationwide protests against privatisation to be held on 19 December
- Organisations of farmers, workers participate in the Electricity Panchayat in Agra
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On 8 December 2024, an Electricity Panchayat was organized at the office of the MD, Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam, Agra, against the decision of the state government to hand over Dakshinanchal and Purvanchal electricity distribution companies to private hands. Various member organisations of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, various trade unions, women’s organizations, AIPF, CPM and civil organisations and thousands of electricity workers participated in this Panchayat. In the Panchayat, a strong demand was made to the Yogi government to withdraw the decision of privatisation of electricity. In the Panchayat, it was also announced that 19 December, the day of the Kakori incident, will be observed as a protest day against privatisation across the country.
Addressing the Panchayat, Engineer Shailendra Dubey, convener of Vidyut Karamchari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti, said that the Energy Minister, who talked about the benefits of privatisation in the current session of the Assembly, did not present any facts in this regard. The minister’s statement that the privatisation of the electricity department will lead to increased public convenience is misleading the people. The truth is that all experiments of privatisation in the country have proven to be completely unsuccessful. He gave the example of Odisha, where electricity distribution was privatised. After a cyclone there, the companies refused to undertake maintenance work; as a result, the government had to withdraw that decision. Due to the privatisation of electricity in metros like Delhi, Mumbai etc., common consumers are being forced to buy very expensive electricity. He said that in Uttar Pradesh alone, the talk of the losses of the electricity department is meaningless. Government departments and big companies have so many outstanding dues that if these are recovered, the electricity department will come in a profit of about Rs. 5000 crore. He also appealed to all the organisations and citizens of the state to put pressure on the government to withdraw the privatisation of electricity.
Dinkar Kapoor, State General Secretary of All India People’s Front, said that privatisation of electricity is against national interests and the spirit of the Constitution. The Constitution makers had given India the status of a welfare state, but the government has backtracked from this and the economic sovereignty of the entire country has been handed over to a few big capitalist houses. Therefore, the struggle against privatisation is a fight to restore national sovereignty and democracy. He said that the whole world saw how big a scam Adani committed with the help of the Solar Energy Corporation of India on the instructions of the Modi government. Today, an FIR was registered against Adani in America due to this corruption and India has been embarrassed in the whole world. He informed that youth organisations across the country have launched a Rozgar Adhikar Abhiyan, in which a major demand is a ban on privatisation in fields such as education, health, electricity, railways, roadways, coal, etc in public interest. The youth have also raised the point that tax should be imposed on the property of the super-rich of the country and these resources should be used for the life and social security of the people.
State President of Uttar Pradesh Kisan Sabha, Bharat Singh, said that the privatisation of electricity is going to cause great harm to farmers. Farmers will get expensive electricity, and this will be a big blow to farmers struggling with the agricultural crisis. The right to a dignified life given in the Constitution is being violated. Therefore, the ongoing agitation against privatisation is of the common citizens and efforts will be made to take it to every village.
Shashikant, National Secretary of Krantikari Kisan Union, said that the farmers’ movement in the country had opposed the Electricity Amendment Bill and the government was forced to stop it. The government is trying to end the system of subsidy and cross subsidy, due to which farmers will lose the electricity which is very important for them. Therefore, this agitation is not only of the employees but also of the farmers. Both should participate in this movement with unity while fulfilling each other’s interests.
Rajveer Lavania, Divisional President of Bharatiya Kisan Union, conveying the message of Rakesh Tikait, said that his farmers’ union stands with the movement of electricity employees and farmers will support this movement with full strength.
Addressing the gathering, Jitendra Gurjar, General Secretary of Officers Association, said that the government was thinking that by repression and oppression, it will suppress the voice of the electricity employees and carry out privatisation without any hindrance. But the power gathered in the Panchayat today has shown that we are not afraid and we will fight against privatisation till our last breath.
PK Dixit of Hydro Employees Union said that in the history of electricity, there has never been such a weak departmental minister as there is today. The minister has not fulfilled the promise he made to the employees till date.
Moti Singh, leader of contract workers, said that contract workers will suffer the most from privatisation and about 50,000 contract workers will be laid off after privatisation. Therefore, contract workers will participate in the movement with full force.
Puran Singh of Kisan Ekta Kendra said that his organisation has been fighting against privatisation and smart meters for a long time.
The meeting was conducted by electricity employees’ leader Suhail Abdi. State Vice President of UP Workers’ Front Engineer Durga Prasad, State Joint Secretary of Kisan Sabha Digambar Singh, President of Kisan Sabha (Etah) Rajaram Yadav, State Council Member from Aligarh Idris Mohammad, President of All India Women’s Committee Rajendri, District Minister Kiran Singh, and District Minister of Khet Mazdoor Union Puran Singh Nagar were also present in the Panchayat.
Sincerely,
Engineer Durga Prasad
State Vice President
UP Workers’ Front