Leaders of Punjab industrial bodies addressing news conference at Ludhiana on Monday
Industrial bodies to oppose power tariff hike, boycott government programmes
By Raju William
Ludhiana, December 11, 2017: The industrial organizations under the banner of Industries and Trade Forum have decided to launch protest against increase in power tariff.
Addressing a news conference after their meeting here on Monday, the leaders of about 40 industrial organizations from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Mandi Gobindgarh announced their decision take up cudgels against discriminatory decision of the state government.
They condemned the retrospective increase in power tariff , two part tariff and its promise of power to the industry at the rate of Rs 5 per unit for five years.
“We will wait for the government response till December 20 failing which a chain hunger strike will be started at Vishkarma Chowk, Ludhiana. Our protest will continue till acceptance of our demands,” informed Inderjit Singh Navyug, the president of United Cycle Parts and Manufacturers Association (UCPMA).
The organizations also decided not to welcome any MLA, Minister or MP of the ruling party and boycott any of the industry related government programme.
The representatives of five organizations will sit on hunger strike and dharna on daily basis. The first batch will comprise Inderjit Singh Navyug president UCPMA, Badish Jindal president FOPSIA, KK Garg president All India Induction Furnace Association, Kulwant Singh president Machine Tools Manufacturers Association and Mohinder Gupta President Mandi Gobindgarh Furnace Association.
Others present in the meeting included Upkar Singh Ahuja president CICU, Avtar Singh Bhogal, Sukhdial Singh, Manjit Singh Matharoo of Machine Tools Manufacturers Association, Raghbir Singh Sokhi president of Sewing Machine Association and Pardeep Wadhawan senior vice-president of UCPMA.