SUNAM, July 27 — Punjab Cabinet Minister and Aam Aadmi Party State President Aman Arora requested the striking Punjab State Power Corporation Limited employees to call off their agitation, pointing to the hardship caused to the farming community during the crucial paddy transplantation period along with disruptions to essential services for residents state-wide. He stated that the state administration remains fully committed to resolving all pending issues through peaceful discussions.
Addressing newspersons in Sunam, the Cabinet Minister maintained that around 18,500 employees are currently participating in the strike that started on July 21, impacting services for nearly three crore citizens. He asserted that a special committee was formed nearly 25 days ago at the specific request of the employee unions, featuring representatives from the Finance, Power, and Personnel departments alongside four union leaders to review their concerns.
“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,” stated Aman Arora.
The Minister declared that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is personally overseeing the developments, while Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO are actively conversing with the union representatives. He affirmed that the administration has consistently worked for employee welfare over the past four and a half years, providing thousands of jobs and regularising contractual staff.
“I assure the employee unions that every genuine demand recommended by the committee will be accepted by the government. When discussions between the government and the employee unions are already underway, resorting to a strike before the dialogue process is completed is not in the larger public interest,” the Minister affirmed.
Recounting his interaction with local residents, Aman Arora stated that a farmer cultivating three acres of leased land shared how the power disruption severely affected his agricultural operations. He declared that pressure tactics through public inconvenience cannot be accepted when the administration’s doors remain open for talks at all levels.
“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,” stated Aman Arora, adding that farmer organisations should also play a constructive role in facilitating an amicable solution.
