Chandigarh: Strongly opposing the Centre’s introduction of the Electricity Amendment Bill-2022 in Parliament without even consulting the states, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday termed the move as an “attack on the constitutional rights” of the states.
“Through such nefarious designs the Centre is weakening the foundations of the federal structure,” said the chief minister. He said this is another attempt by the Centre to undermine the authority of the states. He said the states would not sit silently against the Centre’s attempt to dilute the federal spirit of our democracy.
The Chief Minister said the states would fight from the road to Parliament to protect their rights. He said the Union government should have consulted the states before introducing any bill related to the power sector. Mann said that instead of consulting them the bill is being imposed on the states.
Questioning the Centre’s intentions, the chief minister said when the states provide electricity to their residents on their own, why their feedback was not sought while introducing a new bill.
He said that in Punjab free power is being given to farmers and domestic consumers and if the Centre is amending the bills as per their own conditions, the farmers and other sections would get a big blow as states like Punjab would not be able to continue with such pro-people initiatives.
