Protest staged against proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025

Members of the Karnataka State Electricity Consumers Association and the All India Krishi Karmikara Sangathane (AIKKMS) staged a protest seeking the withdrawal of what they called a regressive and anti-people Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025.

Activists demanded that the government take steps to safeguard the public electricity distribution system, instead. During the protest, demonstrators burnt a copy of the Bill.

The protesters demanded that the proposed Bill should not be introduced in the current session of Parliament. They said that the provisions of the proposed Bill are regressive and harmful to the interests of employees, workers, electricity consumers, farmers and small-scale industries across the country.

They said that the proposed amendments encourage privatisation and fragmentation of the electricity distribution sector which will seriously damage the public nature of electricity services.

They demanded protection of the public ownership and public utility character of the electricity distribution system and hold wide consultations with employee unions, consumer organisations and other stakeholders before proposing any major changes in the electricity sector.

Leaders Gangadhar Badiger, Beeresh Salgar, Bhuvana Ballari, Deepa Dharwad, Sharanu Gonavar, Yogappa Jotepanavar and others were present.