Why INDIA bloc has called for bandh in Puducherry

NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc , including the Congress, DMK and communist parties, have called for a bandh (strike) in Puducherry on Wednesday.

The dawn-to-dusk bandh has been called to protest against the rise in power tariff by the AINRC-BJP-led coalition government in the Union territory.

The opposition has claimed that the government's move to introduce pre-paid meters for power supply and privatise power distribution would cripple the farmers of the fair supply of electricity.

Congress's Puducherry unit chief V Vaithilingam , who also happens to be Puducherry Lok Sabha MP , has sought the cooperation of all sections of the people for the successful conduct of Wednesday's bandh.

The opposition has claimed that privatisation of power distribution would lead the private players to charge an unfair amount and hold consumers to ransom with much-hiked prices.

The INDIA block stated that there was no inconvenience now when the Department of Electricity is supplying the power. All department assets would be placed at the disposal of the private sector if the power supply becomes the prerogative of the private entrepreneurs, reported news agency PTI.

Earlier, speaking at a similar protest organised by the INDIA bloc, DMK's R Siva regretted that the AINRC-BJP coalition government had failed to learn its lesson from the Lok Sabha defeat.

Puducherry's former chief minister and senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy has also warned that the INDIA alliance would hold a series of protests if the government refuses to withdraw the hike in power tariff and dropped its proposal to privatise the electricity department.