Photo Source: ANI
Nationwide strike on July 9 against power privatization: AIPEF
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 22, 2025: In a strong show of opposition to the privatisation of the power sector in Uttar Pradesh, the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has announced a nationwide one-day strike on July 9, with widespread participation expected from electricity employees, farmer unions, and consumer rights groups across the country.
The announcement was made by AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey after a massive Bijli Maha Panchayat was held in Lucknow, where thousands of electricity workers, trade union leaders, and family members gathered in protest.
The Maha Panchayat, which took place in the state capital, brought together representatives from across India, including leaders from Punjab and major farmers’ and consumer organizations.
The protestors voiced strong opposition to the Uttar Pradesh government's push for privatisation of power distribution, raising serious concerns over its long-term implications on employment, consumer rights, and electricity tariffs.
AIPEF has also declared that electricity employees in Uttar Pradesh will begin a protest on July 2 and will go on complete work boycott the moment the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) issues a tender notice for privatisation. Chairman Shailendra Dubey stated that should the process proceed, all 27 lakh electricity employees across the country will carry out a token strike the same day as an expression of solidarity and nationwide dissent.
The Maha Panchayat was also addressed by major national figures. Dr. Darshan Pal, National President of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, and Ramanath Jha, Executive Managing Director of Transparency International India, who couldn’t attend in person due to a cancelled flight, addressed the gathering through video conferencing.
According to AIPEF Media Advisor V.K. Gupta, both leaders condemned the privatisation move and called for public resistance.
Other prominent leaders present and speaking at the protest included Shivgopal Mishra, General Secretary of the All India Railway Men's Federation; A.K. Jain of AIPEF; R.K. Trivedi, President of the All India Power Diploma Engineers Federation; Sudip Dutta, General Secretary of Electricity Employees of India; Y.P. Arora of the United Forum of Bank Unions; senior Supreme Court advocate Y.S. Lohit; and Jitender Gurjar, General Secretary of UP Abhiyanta Sangh. Their speeches echoed a unified stance against the handover of public utilities to private entities and the adverse impact it would have on service quality, consumer affordability, and employee job security.
Awadhesh Kumar Verma, President of the State Electricity Consumer Council, also raised critical concerns on behalf of electricity consumers, highlighting how privatisation would likely result in inflated tariffs and reduced accountability to the public.
The protestors demanded an immediate rollback of the privatisation plans, reinstatement of all victimised UPPCL employees, and strict adherence to agreements previously made between employee unions and the government.
There were also strong calls for the protection of employees' job security in the state sector and assurances that power tariffs would not be raised to benefit private players.
Shailendra Dubey remarked that what started as a state-level protest is now assuming a national character, as voices from various sectors unite in resistance to what they see as the corporatisation of essential services.
“This is no longer just about Uttar Pradesh,” Dubey said. “It’s about the future of India’s power sector. If we don’t speak now, it will be too late.”
As the countdown to July 9 begins, the movement is gaining momentum. With farmers, labour unions, and consumers rallying alongside electricity workers, this upcoming strike could emerge as one of the largest unified protests against power sector privatisation in recent years.