Haryana's BJP Government Backs Down on Power Privatisation After 48-Hour Strike by Employees

Chandigarh: The BJP government in Haryana has withdrawn its move to allow a private company to distribute electricity in Gurugram and Nuh for 25 years, following a strike by employees and engineers against privatisation of the distribution sector. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that the decision was taken in the public interest under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

The 48-hour strike has ended, with workers withdrawing their protest. The Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI) congratulated the workers who led what it described as a historic victory.

The government had sought to grant Eleven Power Private Limited a parallel electricity distribution licence. On October 19, the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission issued an order permitting the company to distribute electricity in the two districts for 25 years. The move triggered strong protests against privatisation, with nearly 50,000 workers joining the strike.

EEFI had demanded that the government issue a directive under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and that the Chief Minister publicly declare that parallel electricity distribution would not be permitted.

Farmers’ organisations and trade unions also supported the strike. Workers ensured that essential electricity supplies to hospitals were not disrupted during the agitation.

EEFI said the government’s withdrawal from the privatisation move was a major victory for the strike. In a statement, EEFI general secretary Sudeep Dutta said public distribution utilities would not be allowed to be undermined for private profit and that the fight against parallel distribution licences would continue.