The INDIA bloc has called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh in Puducherry on September 18 to protest the recent hike in power tariffs and the territorial government’s move to introduce prepaid meters and privatize power distribution.
V Vaithilingam, President of the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee and Lok Sabha MP announced on Monday that the bandh will protest the AINRC-BJP coalition’s decision to privatise power distribution in the Union Territory.
In a release, Vaithilingam stated that leaders and cadres from the DMK, Communist parties, VCK, and other INDIA bloc affiliates will hold a rally on Tuesday to gather public support for the bandh. The opposition has been actively protesting against the privatization plan, voicing concerns about the impact on consumers.
The INDIA bloc has raised alarms over the decision to allow private players into power distribution, warning that it would place consumers “at the mercy” of private firms. They argue that farmers, in particular, will lose access to free power, and tariffs will skyrocket for all consumers.
According to the bloc, there are no issues with the current power supply provided by the Department of Electricity. They also expressed fears that privatisation would hand over all assets of the electricity department to private entities, worsening the situation for consumers.
The bandh on September 18 aims to highlight these concerns and mobilise public resistance to the government’s plans.