Sunam; 26 July 2026:
Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora today appealed to the employees of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) who are on strike to immediately call off the strike. He said that this is causing immense hardship to farmers during the crucial paddy sowing season and essential services are being affected for about three crore citizens across the state. He said that the Bhagwant Mann government is always ready for talks and a high-level committee constituted 25 days ago on the demand of the employee unions is already considering their pending demands. He assured that every valid recommendation of the committee will be accepted by the government.
Addressing a press conference today, Aam Aadmi Party Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said, “The employees of the Power Corporation have been on strike since July 21, due to which the people of Punjab, especially our farmers, are facing a lot of trouble. The paddy planting season is at a crucial juncture and the problems of the farmers have increased due to the disruption of electricity services. Apart from farmers, domestic consumers, traders, our mothers and sisters and common citizens are also facing serious problems due to disruption in electricity services.”
The Aam Aadmi Party Punjab President said, “The Bhagwant Mann government is a government of every section of the society. After assuming power, it has taken many historic decisions for the welfare of the employees. The government has given jobs to thousands of youth in various departments, made thousands of raw employees regular, given them service benefits and resolved the long-standing demands of the employees of various departments. Many demands of the employees of the Power Board have already been accepted by the government.”
The Cabinet Minister said, “Regarding the remaining demands, the employee unions themselves had requested the government to constitute a special committee representing both the government and the unions to deliberate on these issues. Acting on their request, the government had constituted a high-level committee about 20 to 25 days ago. This committee comprises senior officials from the finance, power and personnel departments as well as four representatives of the employee unions. The committee is continuously deliberating on these issues and the government is fully prepared to consider every legitimate demand with a sympathetic and positive approach.”
He further said, “I assure the employee unions that every legitimate demand recommended by the committee will be accepted by the government. When talks are already underway between the government and the employee unions, it is not in the larger public interest to opt for a strike before this process is completed.”
Aman Arora said, “Going on strike with the intention of putting pressure on the government by disturbing the public and harassing the farmers cannot be justified under any circumstances. The government is yours and you are also servants of the public like us. Therefore, I humbly appeal to all the employee unions not to harass the people of Punjab, especially our farmer brothers, during the paddy sowing season.”
Sharing an incident from his visit to the villages, the Cabinet Minister said, “Today I met several farmers, one of whom cultivates three acres of contract land. He told me with great sadness that his livelihood has been badly affected due to the power supply being disrupted due to the strike. What is the fault of such farmers? If the employees have some problems, then they are with the government and the government is already considering them positively. No harm should be done to innocent citizens.”
Aman Arora said, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is personally monitoring this entire matter. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO are in constant touch with the employee unions and are making every possible effort to resolve the issue through dialogue.”
He said, “The stand of the Punjab government is absolutely clear. We are always ready to listen to every legitimate demand of any employee union or employee and are committed to finding a suitable solution for it. The Chief Minister, the Power Department and the entire government are with you. You can meet the Chief Minister or any minister at any time and present your side. Every demand that is in the interest of the employees, Punjab and the people of the state will be considered.”
The Cabinet Minister said, “During the last four and a half years, the Punjab government has made unprecedented efforts to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the state. If some people try to tarnish the image of the government by harassing the public through strikes, the people of Punjab are well aware of the facts.”
Appealing to the farmers’ organizations, Aman Arora said, “I appeal to the farmers’ organizations to play a positive role in ending the strike by talking to the employee unions, keeping in mind the larger public interest.”
Aman Arora said, “Every legitimate demand will be resolved through dialogue, but this approach of pressuring the government by harassing the public will not be tolerated.
