Power tariff hike roll back is people's victory : Bhattal

Chandigarh, Nov 13 (UNI) Punjab Congress President Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today expressed satisfaction and relief over the "withdrawal" of power tariff hike for domestic consumers and industry in the state by the Government.

Terming it as victory of people and the Congress, Mrs Bhattal said the Congress would always stand by the people and support the Government for any constructive policy and programme in public interest.

However, the party would leave no stone unturned to oppose decisions which flagrantly violated interests of the people of the state, she said.

She recalled that Punjab Congress had earlier vehemently opposed the Government's move to hike the power tariff by 8.4 per cent, 12 per cent and 7 per cent for domestic, agriculture and other consumers respectively.

Mrs Bhattal said that not in any case the general public should be forced to bear the burden of fiscal "mismanagement" of the Government, due to which power rates were hiked.

The power tariff hike would have put undue burden on the already over stretched common man and industry as well, which was already shifting from Punjab to other states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI