CHANDIGARH: In its war against Punjab India is now trying to force industrialists to leave the Sikh majority state and set up units in the Hindu States. This is the only conclusion one can draw from the recent Indian political moves enhancing sharply the power rates applicable to industry in the state. Effective from November 1 the electricity rates for industry have been raised by about 50% by the Punjab State Electricity Board.
The new tariff will mean an additional burden of more than Rs 300 crore per annum on the industry. No wonder the industrialists have reacted sharply against the unprecedented and arbitrary power rates hike. About a dozen industrial chambers and organizations have called for a one day strike throughout Punjab on Thursday to protest against the new electricity rates.
The strike call was issued jointly by Gobindgarh Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mohali Industries Association Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings Ludhiana Steel Rolling Mills Association of India Factories Association Batala Steel Furnace Association of India Patiala Chamber of Industries Rajpura Commerce and Industries Association Gobindgarh Induction Furnace Association Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association and several other affiliate associations. There was tremendous response to the call for strike by the industrial associations throughout Punjab. No industry functioned for the day. Ata press conference addressed by more than dozen representatives of industry and trade at Chandigarh on Wednesday it was argued that the Indian government itself should bear the burden of law and order and it should not pass this burden to the people of Punjab in general and the industry in particular
Many observers felt that the real aim of the sharp increase in electricity rates by India in Punjab is to compel the industrialists to leave Punjab and to set up units in the neighboring Hindu states like Haryana Rajasthan U.P. and Himachal Pradesh. In fact this trend is already on many Ludhiana based industries have purchased industrial plots at Bhiwadi in Rajasthan and in a few places in Rajastan and U.P
Observers also felt that India was now in a relatively comfortable position to impose its will on Punjab owing to the weakening of the Sikh movement led by militant leaders. The harmful implications of the power tariff were perceived by Punjab’s minister for irrigation and power Harcharan Singh Brar who had opposed the proposal to enhance electricity rates.
But he was blackmailed into submission by the Indian puppet regime headed by Beant Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 20, 1992
