Siliguri, 14th June: The city of Siliguri has been grappling with persistent load shedding during the evenings, causing widespread frustration among its residents. In response to this issue, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPIM] staged a joint protest in front of the Customer Service Center of Hakimpara Electricity Department.
The demonstration witnessed a significant turnout as the BJP’s Circle No. 3 Committee and CPIM’s No. 3 Area Committee organized a rally, which culminated in a gathering outside the Customer Service Center. Demonstrators held candles and placards, expressing their discontent with the recurring power outages. Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh was also present during the demonstration.
During the protest, the political representatives handed over a memorandum to the officer of the electricity department, outlining their grievances. The BJP and CPIM alleged that the persistence of load shedding exacerbates the discomfort experienced by city residents, particularly amidst the sweltering heat. They demanded an immediate end to the power cuts and the provision of reliable electricity services for the city. Additionally, the political parties have voiced a further demand for a monthly electricity billing system, as opposed to the current three-month cycle.