Chandigarh 8 August : In opposition to the introduction by the Centre of the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2022 in the Lok Sabha without even consulting states, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday described the move an attack on fundamental rights of the states. “Through these shady schemes by the Union government is weakening the foundations of the federal structure,” he said.
Mann said that this is yet another attempt by the Centre to weaken the authority of the states.He absolutely stated that the Union government should not be viewed as the states as puppets.
States will not slack against this effort of the Centre to undermine the spirit of the federal state of democratic principles, he added.
The Chief Minister said that the states will be fighting from the road to Parliament to defend their rights.
He stated that the Union government should have sought the advice of the states prior to introducing any Bill concerning the power sector.
But instead of consulting the public, this Bill is being imposed upon the states and is an open assault on the structure of the federal government, he said.
In questioning the intentions of the Centre, the Chief Minister said that if states provide the electricity for their inhabitants on their own.Then why their input not been sought out when proposing an entirely new Bill.
Referring to the case of Punjab, he said farmers in the state are provided with free electricity to help in agriculture.Similar to that, Mann said free power supply is also offered to domestic consumers .Mann said if the Centre is modifying the Bills in accordance with their own terms, farmers and other groups will be hit hard as states such as Punjab are not in a position to continue these pro-people initiatives.
In a warning to the Centre to refrain from playing with fire The Chief Minister urged it not to repeat the mistake of the implementation of draconian three agriculture laws.
He requested the government to reconsider their decision of proposing the Electricity Amendment Bill as the people of the country will not be tolerant of unilateral decisions.
Mann requested that the Central government must consider the feedback of the states prior to making any legislation in the power industry, as it would directly affect all citizens of the country.
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