The contentious Electricity Amendment Bill, 2022 enabling the introduction of private players in the power distribution market was tabled in the Lok Sabha earlier today amid stiff opposition coming in from the national political parties forcing the government to direct the bill for further discussion to the parliamentary standing committee.
Congress along with the Left parties, TMC, and DMK stood against the presentation of the bill in the house, claiming it was a violation of federal principles empowered to them through the constitution.
The opposing parties have conjoined their opinion on the matter marking it as an indiscriminate power to the private players and leaving the state governments completely out of the scene when electricity is falling under the concurrent list.
The government on the other hand has accused the opposing parties of misleading people by running false propaganda on the matter. Highlighting the government’s move to forward the bill to the committee for further discussion Union Minister of Power RK Singh said.
"This bill does not cut any current subsidies being given to farmers. Free power to farmers will continue. There is no provision in this bill to stop subsidies. As far as the opposition’s objection to multiple licences in one place is there, this provision exists even in the parent law of 2003. They (opposition parties) are making false statements to mislead people. We have consulted all states and stakeholders. This is a pro-people and a pro-farmers bill."
The bill on electricity was brought to the floor of the house earlier for discussion, where farm union ‘Samyukta Kisan Morcha’ warned the government of action against the introduction.
The SKM in one of its recent statements said the withdrawal of the bill was among the principal demands of the year-long farmers’ movement. “On December 9, 2021, the government in a letter to the SKM said that on the provisions in the Electricity Amendment Bill which affect farmers, there will be a discussion with all stakeholders. No discussions have taken place in the past eight months and introduction of this bill would amount to a stark betrayal of the farmers by the government."
Congress on the occasion saw the opportunity of its political move by highlighting the case in the people’s house by reminding the government of the promise they made to the farmers on the bill earlier.
Marking their disapproval with the projection of the bill on the table Lok Sabha leader of Congress in the house said, “You had given a written assurance to the SKM that you would not bring this bill without discussions. This is an anti-farmer bill."
Amid the united voice coming in from the opposing parties, several leaders including Congress veteran Manish Tewari has flagged their concern on the dangerous aspects of privatisation aimed through this bill.
He said, “This bill seeks to amend the Constitution through a statute and is beyond the legislative competence of the House. The amendment substantially weakens the power of states by allowing multiple private agencies to distribute power in one place. This paves the way for privatisation of profits and nationalisation of losses and usurps the rights of states.
The Centre has been empowered to issue licences to multi-state distribution companies with no consultation with the states. The Bill also says that if any state commission is unable to perform its tasks, the Centre can in consultation with states (not the consent of states) ask another state agency to discharge the tasks."
NK Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party opposed the bill terming it a push for indiscriminate privatisation and against the federal structure of the constitution.
Amid the heated opposition and talks on the bill, BJD MP Pinaki Mishra was among the few raising conciliatory sign on the moment and urged to leave it for discussions at the parliamentary committee.