In a significant display of collective dissent, thousands of power sector employees and engineers across India have launched a massive nationwide protest. The agitation targets the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the ongoing privatisation of the power sector in several states.
A Unified Stand Against Privatisation
The protests were coordinated by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE). The primary demand is for the central and state governments to completely withdraw the controversial bill and halt the privatisation process. Shalendra Dubey, the chairperson of the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), issued a stern warning from Varanasi. He stated that if the Centre and states do not reconsider their stance, a more intense nationwide agitation will be inevitable.
Dubey emphasized the direct impact on consumers, arguing that the bill would lead to steep hikes in electricity tariffs. He expressed concern that such increases would make power unaffordable for low-income families and farmers, pushing a essential service beyond their reach.
Widespread Demonstrations Across the Nation
According to V K Gupta, a spokesperson for AIPEF, demonstrations were not confined to a single region but were held in all states. Key locations included Patiala, Jammu, Kashmir, and Dehradun. Major metropolitan hubs like Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, and Lucknow also saw significant gatherings of protesting power employees.
The state of Uttar Pradesh became a focal point of the protests. Agitations were particularly intense in the cities of Varanasi and Agra. Here, employees vocally demanded that the central government withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 and put an immediate stop to the privatisation process.
Solidarity with a Year-Long Struggle
In a show of unity, engineers and employee unions in Patiala organised a rally to express solidarity with their counterparts in Uttar Pradesh. This gesture marked a significant milestone as the UP power employees completed one full year of their struggle against privatisation and the contentious electricity bill.
Further north, the Jammu and Kashmir region also witnessed strong participation. Union members Pirzada Hidayatullah and Sachin Tickoo reported that the Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) held rallies at Bemina, across North Kashmir, and in ten districts of Jammu province. These protests were directed against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 and in firm support of the year-long fight by the UP power employees.
