Electricity consumers’ convention to be held in Bengaluru on October 26

All India Electricity Consumers’ Association (AIECA) has organised South India zone electricity consumers’ convention in Bengaluru on October 26, opposing privatisation of power sector and to press for various demands.

Addressing press persons in Dharwad on October 13, AIECA State unit secretary Jnanamurthy said that the convention in Bengaluru was part of a series of conventions being held in four zones of India. The convention will be held at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru.

Mr. Jnanamurthy said that representatives of electricity consumers from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana would participate in the zonal convention. “The objective of the convention is to strengthen the fight against privatisation of power sector and also to oppose smart metres in Karnataka,” he said.

Mr. Jnanamurthy said that during the historic farmers’ agitation in Delhi, farmers had strongly opposed the three draconian farm laws and also the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The Union Government had assured farmers that the electricity bill would be withdrawn, but had not fulfilled its promise. Expressing solidarity with the electricity consumers, representatives of AIKKMS (All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Sanghathan) would also be participating in the convention, he said.

The all India president of AIECA Swapan Ghosh would inaugurate the convention, in which a host of activists and leaders from various organisations would be addressing the participants, he said.

Mr. Jnanamurthy said that while power is people’s right and essential service, the government is bent on making it a commodity of business, which should be strongly opposed. The new bill is aimed at helping corporates and private companies, and all the State Governments are also supporting it. The convention is being held to strengthen people’s movement against it, he said.