Patiala, September 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Thousands of Congress workers led by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring staged a protest in Patiala on Monday against the Aam Aadmi Party government over the power crisis facing the state.
A heavy police contingent was deployed and barricades were erected to prevent the protesters from reaching the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) office.
Addressing the gathering, Warring described the power crisis as “man-made” and alleged that corruption and mismanagement by the AAP government were responsible for the situation.
The Punjab Congress chief targeted outgoing PSPCL Chairman Basant Garg over his appointment, claiming that he was not a technocrat despite this being a basic requirement for the position. Warring alleged that the state government changed the rules to accommodate Garg at the behest of its “Delhi bosses”.
He further claimed that Garg had been entrusted with multiple responsibilities and alleged that he attended the PSPCL office for only 20 of the approximately 300 days during which he remained Chairman.
Warring also questioned the appointment of the Director Generation in PSPCL, alleging that an ineligible person was appointed after the previous incumbent, Harjit Singh, was removed.
He alleged that Singh was removed after refusing to follow the government’s diktats and was subsequently hounded by the Vigilance Bureau.
The PCC president further alleged that then Power Minister Sanjeev Arora wanted to accommodate a person from Ludhiana who was not eligible for the position. Warring claimed that the episode contributed to mismanagement within PSPCL and ultimately to the present power situation.
Turning to electricity demand planning, Warring alleged that PSPCL failed to anticipate the state’s requirements and make adequate arrangements for the agriculture sector despite forecasts concerning the monsoon.
He rejected coal shortage as the principal explanation for the power crisis, arguing that Punjab has access to its own coal mine. According to Warring, power generation at the Lehra Mohabbat and Ropar thermal plants fell substantially because of an employees’ strike, which he attributed to promises allegedly not fulfilled by the AAP government.
The Punjab Congress president also levelled allegations regarding the cost of power purchases. He claimed that electricity which PSPCL earlier purchased at around Rs 5 per unit was now being bought at Rs 8.10 per unit.
Warring alleged that brokers from Delhi had been brought into the power-purchase process instead of PSPCL procuring electricity directly.
He also questioned what he described as a Rs 7,000-crore gap in the power subsidy payable by the Punjab Government to PSPCL.
According to Warring, the government was required to provide around Rs 22,000 crore towards agriculture and free-power subsidy, but Rs 7,000 crore remained unaccounted for.
“Where did that Rs 7,000 crore vanish?” he asked.
Warring also raised questions over alleged brokerage payments connected with government borrowings. He claimed that Rs 150 crore was paid as brokerage for arranging a Rs 10,000-crore loan and another Rs 340 crore for a subsequent Rs 25,000-crore loan.
He further alleged that a Gujarat-based broker was involved in the latter transaction and claimed that the brokerage money would be used for elections there.
Launching a political attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Warring accused him of taking Punjab “back by 25 years” and alleged that the AAP government had damaged the state on multiple fronts.
Warring also announced that the Congress would hold another major protest in Chandigarh on Tuesday under the leadership of newly appointed party General Secretary in-charge Sachin Pilot, demanding the removal of Harpal Singh Cheema.
He linked the proposed protest to the case of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit man whom Warring alleged was driven to suicide by people associated with Cheema. The Congress leader said the party would demand justice for the deceased.
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