Lucknow: Thousands of people took out a protest march on Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh against Yogi Adityanad administration’s push for privatizing electricity, The Free Press Journal reported.
A large number of power sector employees, engineers, and trade union activists thronged at the gates of Shakti Bhawan in Lucknow.
The protest organized by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers drew over one lakh workers to streets across the state.
Its resonance was felt outside the state too with 27 lakh people protesting across the nation demanding to revoke privatization plan that will affect ‘affordable electricity, job security and public interest,’ Free Press Journal reported.
Jitendra Singh Gurjar, leader of the engineer’s association called privatization of electricity ‘loot in the name of policy’, adding that ‘From ₹6.50/unit to ₹13/unit, this is what privatization will do to common households. Farmers will lose free power. 26,000 government jobs gone. 50,000 contract workers fired’.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union, backed by national farmer leader Kamlesh Yadav said: ‘Yogi has already sold airports, buses, now he's eyeing electricity. The BJP is selling off India’s assets, and we won’t let it happen.’
Trade unions from railways, banks, BSNL, insurance, and postal departments threw their weight behind the protest.
Thus the joint front urged the government to stop privatization, repeal of anti labour codes, and ensure fair wages.