Protest rally held today in support of electricity employees striking against 'parallel licensing' in Gurugram and Nuh (Haryana)

Protest rally held today in support of electricity employees striking against 'parallel licensing' in Gurugram and Nuh (Haryana), and against the invocation of ESMA in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh 23 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : A protest rally was held today—the second consecutive day—in Sector 20, in support of the three-day strike by electricity employees against the 'parallel licensing' granted in the districts of Gurugram and Nuh, and in opposition to the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in Chandigarh. Addressing the rally, Union General Secretary and EEFI National Executive Committee member Gopal Dutt Joshi, Union President Amrik Singh, Senior Vice President Sukhvinder Singh Sidhu, Vice President Gurmeet Singh, and Joint Secretaries Kashmir Singh, Virendra Singh, Harjinder Singh, Surjit Singh, and Amit Kumar, among others, demanded the cancellation of the parallel licenses granted by the HERC (Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission) to '11 Power' in Gurugram and Nuh. The speakers urged the Haryana government to immediately convene a cabinet meeting and announce a policy decision prohibiting parallel licensing across the entire state. They further demanded the revocation of the licenses granted to '11 Power' in Gurugram and Nuh, and called for necessary legal action in this regard. They also emphasized the need for an impartial review of the licensing process, urged the authorities to refrain from any retaliatory action against the employees, and stressed the importance of safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.

The speakers strongly condemned the Chandigarh Administration for invoking ESMA against electricity employees working under the CPDL (Chandigarh Power Distribution Licensee). They described this as a reprehensible attempt to suppress the voices of the employees rather than addressing their legitimate demands—all the more egregious given that the employees were merely engaged in peaceful protest, with no decision taken to go on strike. However, some retired officials from the department—seeking to serve their own interests—have manufactured a false sense of alarm. By providing misleading advice, they have cast doubt on the Administrator’s own decisions. ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) has been in force for two consecutive years, despite the absence of any strike notice or emergency situation. This is merely a failed attempt to suppress peaceful dissent—an attempt that will not be allowed to succeed.

The speakers demanded strict action against—and the immediate removal from the company of—certain officials who incited unrest during a sit-in protest held by employees on October 19th (during their lunch break). These officials allegedly prevented staff from returning to work, effectively holding them captive in their offices from 9:00 AM onwards, and visited the protest site to intimidate the employees.

The speakers warned that if the demands submitted to the administration and CPDL are not addressed promptly—and if the attempts to mislead continue, leading to further confrontation—the union will escalate its struggle to the highest level. In coordination with consumers, the union intends to form 'Joint Coordination Committees' across neighborhoods, sectors, colonies, and villages. Together, they will launch a intensified joint campaign addressing both employee grievances and the issues faced by consumers—such as problems related to solar power, irregularities in CREST, the installation of smart meters, and rising electricity bills. Protests, including the symbolic burning of effigies, will continue. A meeting involving both employees and consumers will be held soon to determine the next course of action.