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, “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.”
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.”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.