The Hindu : Front Page : Karat favours graded policy where free power is given

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Monday, May 30, 2005

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Karat favours graded policy where free power is given

Sarabjit Pandher

``If Electricity Act is to be implemented, no State can give free power to farmers''

CHANDIGARH: While making it clear that the CPI(M), where it was in Government, did not advocate free powers to farmers, the party's general secretary, Prakash Karat, suggested that in States where free power was being given there should be no sudden withdrawal for all categories of consumers in the farm sector. He advocated, in such cases, a graded policy that would give free power only to poor and marginal farmers.

Responding to questions by reporters here on Sunday, Mr. Karat

said farmers with large landholdings and those who had access to better resources should be kept out of the ambit of the concession. However, it was for the Congress leadership to clarify its stance on the Electricity Act of 2003, which had been passed in Parliament with its support. If the Act was to be implemented, no State Government could give free power to its farmers. He reiterated the CPI(M)'s opposition to the process of privatisation of the State Electricity Boards.

Responding to a question on Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's announcement that the State Government was thinking of reviving the concession to the farm sector, Mr. Kar said the Congress leadership should take a decision on basic policy issues. He clarified that the CPI(M) stand on the issue was the same in all States including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

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