Successful Patna Bandh Against Power Tariff Hike

Patna, April 12:

The JDU-BJP Government in Bihar led by Nitish Kumar increased power tariff several times in its six years tenure and as a consequence the power tariff has increased two and half times as it was in 2005. The government had proposed 50 percent hike in power tariff to be affected from April 1 this year.

Protesting this exorbitant hike 22 left, democratic and progressive organizations including SUCI (Communist) got united and formed a platform of struggle ‘Mahangi Bijli Virodhi Sangharsha Manch’ (MBVSM). Against this excessive hike a massive dharna of thousands of people was held at the call of this platform before Vidyut Bhawan on 21 March, 2012. in order to intensify the movement on April 12 call of Patna Bandh was given from the dais of the dharna. Due to the pressure of the movement the tariff was increased to average 12.1 per cent in place of proposed 50 per cent. It was a partial victory of the movement. In the backdrop of the average 12.1 per cent hike the MBVSM in its meeting retain the call of Patna Bandh in order to bring the movement at a higher stage. Massive propaganda was done for the success of the Bandh. On the eve of the Patna Bandh ob April 11 a well decorated procession was taken out from Shahed Bhagat Singh Chowk. Traversing the main thoroughfares of the city the procession converted as a mass meeting at Patna Junction roundabout, where an effigy of Nitish Kumar, CM of Bihar was burnt.

After burning the effigy Com. Arun Kumar Singh, Senior member, Bihar State Committee, SUCI (Communist) along with the leaders of the constituents of MBVSM addressed the gathering. In his address Com. Arun Kumar Singh said, “It is a sinister design of the government to make the electricity out of the reach of the common people handing it over to private owners and splitting the Bihar State Electricity Board into several private companies. Under the garb of good governance and development Nitish government is adopting anti people power policy 2003 rapidly in Bihar. Mass movement against the excessive hike in power tariff is the need of the hour.”

Several processions were taken out in support of Patna Bandh on April 12 appealing the people to support the bandh. The processions were led by Com. Arun Kumar Singh, Senior member, Bihar State Committee, Com. Sadhana Mishra, Secretary, Patna District Committee, SUCI (Communist) and leaders of CPI, CPI(M), MCPI (U), CPI(ML), All India Forward Block, RSP, Janmukti Sangharsha Vahini, Janawadi Lok Manch, Jan Pratirodh Sangharsha Manch, Sarwahara Jan Morcha, Communist Centre of India, CPI(ML)-RS Bhaijee, Janwadi Majdoor Kisan Sabha, Akhil Hind Forward Block (Krantikari), Bihar Pariwartan Morcha, Bharatiya Janwadi Forward Block (Bihar), India Against Corruption, Shram Mukti Sanghatan, Bihar Motor Transport Federation (Auto Union), Samajwadi Jan Parishad and Bihar Jan Kalyan Samiti.

Heartily congratulating the people for making the Patna Bandh a grand success Com. Shiv Shankar, Secretary, SUCI (Communist), Bihar State Committee. In his statement issued to the press he said that Nitish Government was also taking anti people steps following the footprints of Congress government in Centre and previous governments in the state. Stressing the need of intensifying the movement against hike in power tariff to the level of resistance he said mass movement was the only path to address people’s problems. He also urged the common people of the state to build up sustain movement against burning problems of people’s life including excessive hike in power tariff.