Punjab industry threatens to boycott Congress in municipal elections

Punjab's industry associations have accused the Congress led state government of not fulfilling its promise of providing cheap electricity.

Miffed industrialists have threatened to oppose the Congress party in the municipal corporation elections.

After a meeting, the representatives of the associations also announced that if their demand was not accepted within 15 days, they would go on an indefinite strike.

Bandish Jindal, President of the Federation of Punjab Small Scale Industries Associations, alleged that the Punjab government has sent old bills and imposed additional tariff.

"The government has not only failed to fulfil its promise but also betrayed us. The government is trying to put its failures on the industries. After taking votes of the industrialists during the election, the government is now backing on its promise of providing electricity at Rs 5 per unit," Jindal said.

He gave a 15-day ultimatum to the government and said, "After this, strict action will be taken including the hunger strike."

The industry will oppose government officials, office bearers, MPs, legislators and their respect will be changed into humiliation. The Congress party's manifesto will also be challenged in the court," he added.

Avatar Singh Bhogal, a member of the United Cycle Parts Manufacturers Association, alleged that be it the government of the Akali Dal or the Congress, they do not fulfil their poll promises.

"The Congress in its election manifesto promised to give power at Rs. five per unit for five years but has started deceiving in the beginning only. We will completely boycott Congress in the Municipal Corporation elections," Bhogal said.

KK Garg and Mohinderpal Singh Gupta, on behalf of Furnace Associations, said that the industry will not pay old bills to the government and will take electricity at the rate of Rs 5 per unit.

"We will shut our industries if the demand is not met. Prior to the elections, Congress had said that its manifesto is an affidavit. We will challenge the party's manifesto in the court too," they said.

Captain Amarinder Singh is heading the Congress government in Punjab.