Allegations and counter-allegations over power crisis continue to breed in the political corridors of Punjab. Chief Minister of the state, Capt. Amarinder Singh targeted the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed during the rule of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government over the issue. A day after Singh’s allegations, the former deputy chief minister and senior SAD leader Sukhbir Badal hit back. He raised questions over the intent behind the CM’s statement.

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On July 02, Mayawati also slammed the Congress-run state government for power crisis in Punjab. BSP supremo had stated that Congress is only involved in intra-party tussle, conflict and factionalism. In a series of tweets, she urged the people to vote for the SAD-BSP alliance in the upcoming assembly election of 2022.

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Currently, Navjot Singh Sidhu is on a collision course with Capt. Amarinder in intra-congress tussle. Even he has stirred up the power-crisis issue. He had raised the issue alleging that the “needless PPAs” were draining the state coffers. The former state cabinet minister had even demanded a new legislation in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to fix power tariffs as per the National Power Exchange at no fixed cost. He had tweeted, “This would get rid of the old power purchase agreement made by the Badal.”

On Sunday, Sukhbir Badal took to Twitter over the issue. He questioned the CM over the real “intent” behind his statements on PPAs signed during the SAD tenure. Sukhbir tweeted, “Reg your new rant on SAD govt’s power agreements, 4.5 yrs is a long time to scrap any agreement. Who stopped/stops you? Do anything but save Punjabis frm long unbearable power cuts & bills. But it seems U want to be remembered for “BIJLEE MEHANGI, BIJLEE GULL (sic).”

@capt_amarinder Re your new rant on SAD govt’s power agreements, 4.5 yrs is a long time to scrap any agreement. Who stopped/stops ypu? Do anything but save Punjabis frm long unbearable power cuts & bills. But it seems U want to be remembered for “BIJLEE MEHANGI, BIJLEE GULL” 1/2

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) July 4, 2021

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In another tweet, Badal said, “Those who plunged Punjab into darkness are blaming power cuts on those who made the state power-surplus. As PS Badal took over in 2007, Punjab was used to 16 hrs daily cuts. He took 3 yrs to make it power surplus-exactly the time u have taken to push it back into darkness (sic)”.

The barbs on Twitter from Badal come at a time when Punjab is reeling under severe power crisis. This crisis has led to protests taking places across the state over frequent power cuts.

As temperatures continue to soar in the state, the state-owned Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) admitted that it was facing a problem in meeting the demand of more than 14,500 Plus MW.

PSPCL had appealed to government officials at different departments, boards and corporations to use electricity judiciously at work. The company has suggested that electricity can be used properly by switching off the lights, devices and appliances when not in use and turning off high-power consuming appliances such as air conditioners for up to three days.