Punjab Power surplus in advertisements, but missing on the ground: Dhillon

➖ Mann Government incompetence has forced farmers off their fields and onto the streets

➖ The AAP government’s claims of a “power-surplus Punjab” stand thoroughly exposed: Dhillon

➖ Chief Minister must move beyond stage-managed rhetoric and address the grim ground reality

Chandigarh, June 28:
The protests being staged by farmers across Punjab over prolonged power cuts, along with the sit-ins witnessed over the past several days, have completely shattered Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Bhagwant Mann’s claims of ensuring “eight hours of uninterrupted power supply” and turning Punjab into a “power-surplus” state. This strong reaction was expressed by Bharatiya Janata Party Punjab State President Kewal Singh Dhillon.

Taking on the Mann government over the deepening power crisis during the crucial paddy transplantation season, Dhillon said that the erratic electricity supply has forced farmers to rely on costly diesel-powered generators, sharply escalating their cultivation costs. The protests outside power grids across the state, he said, have laid bare the hollowness of the government’s claims of a power-surplus Punjab.

Dhillon recalled that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to free farmers from sleepless nights spent waiting for electricity. Yet today, power remains unavailable during both day and night. Paddy already transplanted is on the verge of drying up due to inadequate water supply, while farmers preparing for fresh transplantation are also struggling without sufficient electricity. He said this is a glaring indictment of the government’s flawed planning and administrative failure.

The BJP leader further stated that farmers in every corner of Punjab are gheraoing power stations and grids, braving scorching heat to stage protests and, in many places, block roads in desperation. If the government’s arrangements were truly efficient, he asked, why are Punjab’s annadatas forced to seek justice on the streets instead of working in their fields?

Kewal Singh Dhillon said the AAP government remains preoccupied with advertisements, social media optics, and manufactured narratives, while farmers on the ground continue to grapple with acute shortages of electricity, water, and administrative support. He asserted that Punjab’s farmers will not forget this failure and will hold the government accountable when the time comes.